North 24 Parganas, West Bengal – Kolkata Police have detained a doctor, Nur Alam Sardar, on charges of allegedly raping a 26-year-old woman patient at his clinic in Hasnabad. According to reports, the doctor allegedly injected the woman with sedatives, recorded the assault, and subsequently blackmailed her with the video.

The accused reportedly demanded ₹4 lakh from the victim, threatening to release the video on social media if she didn’t comply. The victim was also allegedly subjected to repeated assaults, with the doctor using the footage to coerce her into silence.

The case surfaced after the woman, accompanied by her husband, filed a First Information Report (FIR) at Hasnabad Police Station. Following this, police apprehended Sardar from his clinic-cum-residence in Barunhat. Basirhat SP Hossain Mehedi Rehman confirmed that the victim’s confidential statement has been recorded, and the accused has been remanded in police custody for further investigation.

This incident has intensified public focus on women’s safety in West Bengal, especially as it follows the state’s recent push for stricter punishment for crimes against women. Last month, the West Bengal government, under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, passed the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024. This bill mandates the death penalty for rape and murder, a first in the state, and strengthens penalties for other crimes like gang rape and acid attacks, with potential life imprisonment for repeat offenders.

The legislation, part of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) amendments, allows for the death penalty if rape leads to the victim’s death or leaves her in a vegetative state. This law reflects the state’s resolve to act against heinous crimes, with the aim of deterring such offenses and providing justice to victims.