Nationwide Protests Erupt in India Over Doctor's Murder Case Evidence Tampering

India's federal police have charged the former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College with tampering evidence related to the rape and murder of a junior doctor, sparking weeks of protests. The police also arrested the officer responsible for the campus jurisdiction. The case has heightened calls for women's safety in workplaces.

India's federal police have charged the former head of R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata with tampering with evidence linked to the rape and murder of a junior female doctor. The case has triggered weeks of nationwide protests.

Former college principal Sandip Ghosh is already in police custody for suspected graft. The new charges were filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday. The CBI also arrested Abhijit Mondal, the officer in charge of the police station overseeing the college, for failing to protect the crime scene, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

When questioned about Mondal's arrest, a senior Kolkata police official stated, "We will respond to the charges in court." The lawyer representing Ghosh could not be immediately reached for comment.

The rape and murder of the 31-year-old doctor, whose body was discovered at the college over a month ago, has led to a wave of protests by doctors demanding greater safety for women in the workplace and justice for their slain colleague. The CBI's petition accused Ghosh of "deliberate destruction of evidence." Allegedly, Ghosh delayed declaring the victim's death and filing a first information report, which led to the loss of crucial evidence.

Junior doctors in India's West Bengal state, where Kolkata is the capital, have vowed to continue their protests until justice is served.

(With inputs from agencies.)