Toronto/IBNS: Expat Bengali Indians in Canada have submitted a petition to the Consul General of India in Toronto demanding a proper investigation into Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder of a trainee doctor.

In a petition addressed to the President of India and the Prime Minister of India, the group which identified themselves as "Bengalis of Canada" said "the news about the rape and murder of the trainee doctor from Kolkata has left us perturbed and yearning for justice to prevail."

"This young woman's promising future in the field of medicine has been tragically cut short, leaving a void that cannot be filled and the distressing event has left the victim’s family in a state of profound grief and trauma," the petition submitted to Consul General Siddhartha Nath said.

"Till now the behaviour of police and college [RG Kar] authorities have been suspicious as if they have been trying to safeguard certain people. If there's anything that is more heinous than the crime itself, it is a system that is complicit in the crime," the petition said.

"When the whole system is complicit, the last refuge is the people. Thus, this initiative is to ask for support of the people, residing both inside and outside of India to mount pressure on the government.." it said.

Bengali community in Toronto submits a petition to Consul General Siddhartha Nath in his office demanding justice for RG Kar victim.

Their demands included impartial, transparent and fast investigation, holding the authorities in charge responsible and strictest action against those who were complicit in the crime and in misleading the investigation. They also demanded adequate compensation for the family of the deceased.

"The state government must ensure safety and security to all women at their workplace by addressing the systemic issues that can lead to a heinous incident like this," the petition said.

"In light of this situation, I urge the Indian government to take immediate and decisive action to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are swiftly brought to justice. I trust that the government will take these concerns seriously and act promptly to address them," each signatory to the petition expressed.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at 15 locations across Kolkata on Sunday morning in connection with allegations of financial irregularities against RG Kar Medical College's ex-principal Sandeep Ghosh, following the brutal rape and murder of the junior doctor at the hospital premises.

The CBI also searched the house of Debashish Som, who works in the state's forensic department in Kolkata's Beleghata neighbourhood.

The key suspect in the rape and murder has been identified as Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, who was seen on the hospital's CCTV near the crime scene. He was arrested by the Kolkata Police amid a nationwide ongoing protest, strike by junior doctors and fears that there is more to the crime than just an act by the main accused.

(Reporting by Suman Das)