Kolkata/IBNS: Former Indian cricket captain and ex-BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly faced a massive backlash on social media after he called the rape and murder of 31-year-old post graduate medical student at Kolkata's major state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital a "stray incident" while condemning the crime that has sent shockwaves across the country and ignited public fury.

In response to the incident, Ganguly last Sunday said, "It's very unfortunate. There should be strict action against it. It's terrible. I don't think it is appropriate to judge safety issues based on a stray incident. It is just one of the incidents. Such accidents happen in all parts of the world but this has to be strictly dealt with."

Backlash

Clarification

Facing backlash, Ganguly at a separate event on Saturday reiterated that the RG Kar incident is "terrible" and "strict punishment" should be meted out.

The former skipper said, "I don't know how it was construed and interpreted. It was a terrible thing. I want strict punishment for the culprits so that people don't think of committing such crimes ever again. Punishment has to be very severe."

Commenting on the strike by doctors in hospitals, Ganguly said, "Protest and all is fine but people need medical services too. Doctor community is very important for people on an emergency basis."