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Mumbai, October 24 (IANS) Ruling and opposition party leaders have expressed anger over the death of a woman doctor, who allegedly committed suicide in a hotel room at a government hospital in Phaltan taluka of Maharashtra’s Satara district. She left a note on his palm, accusing a police officer of raping and sexually assaulting her in the past five months.
Former Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman and veteran NCP leader Ramraje Nimbalkar said, “This incident has brought Phaltan into disrepute. Everyone knows why this happened. If the CDR is investigated, the matter will be resolved.”
He appealed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order a high-level inquiry. Condemning the female doctor’s death by suicide, Nimbalkar, a resident of Phaltan in Satara district, said, “I don’t want to blame anyone. Earlier, government officials used to demand posting in Phaltan taluka.”
Former minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde demanded that an independent SIT should be appointed to investigate the entire matter and the case should be tried in a fast-track court with stringent punishment to the culprits. He said that he will write a letter to the Chief Minister in this regard tomorrow.
“The incident that happened to a lady doctor, serving in the medical field at Phaltan in Satara district and originally from Wadwani taluka of Beed district, is extremely saddening. My heartfelt condolences to that doctor sister. I share in the grief that has befallen her family due to her untimely demise. The culprits in this incident should be punished severely, and moreover, if her complaints were ignored by her superiors just because she was from the Munde community and It was from Beed, so it is very serious,” he expressed.
Congress legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, “The duty of the police is to protect, but if they themselves are exploiting a female doctor, how will justice be served? Why was no action taken when this girl had filed a complaint earlier? The Mahayuti government repeatedly protects the police, leading to increasing police atrocities.”
He further said, “Merely ordering an investigation in this case is not enough. The police officers allegedly responsible for taking such a drastic step by the woman doctor should be dismissed from the job, otherwise they may press for the investigation. Why was her earlier complaint not taken seriously? Those who ignored it and those who saved these police officers should face action. Unless action is taken against the police, police atrocities will not be curbed.”
Former leader of opposition in the state council and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve condemned the incident and criticized the state government. “The accused in the Phaltan suicide case run away, and then the Chief Minister orders ‘strict’ action. The suicide of a daughter of Marathwada, who has been struggling since birth to move forward, is a sign of the protector turning into the predator. A woman who has taken the vow of public service has to endure such mental torture and meet such an unfortunate end. Our demand is that the government should form an independent inquiry committee comprising officials from outside Satara district. Its There should be a thorough investigation.”
Maharashtra State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar said that the Women’s Commission has taken cognizance of the incident. “At present, a case has been registered at Phaltan City Police Station under sections 64(2)(n) and 108 of the Indian Penal Code. A search team has been sent to arrest absconding accused Gopal Badne and Prashant Bankar.”
Earlier, the victim had written in her suicide note that police officer Gopal Badane raped her several times for five months. Her note also names another person, Prashant Banker, whom she has accused of mentally harassing her. Bunker is the son of the landlord of the house where the doctor was staying. The 28-year-old doctor was a resident of Beed district and was working at a government hospital in Phaltan.
Taking serious note of the incident, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, spoke to the Satara Superintendent of Police and ordered immediate suspension of the officers named by the woman doctor in her suicide note. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a statement that CM Fadnavis has directed that strict action should be taken against all the accused in the case.
However, the victim’s family members have alleged foul play. A family member of the victim said, “There was a lot of police and political pressure on him for preparing the wrong post-mortem report. He tried to complain about it. He should get justice.”
–IANS
SJ/PGH