Kolkata doctor murder: Mob vandalises RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, police fire tear gas to control situation
Kolkata doctor murder: A violent mob vandalised Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital during a midnight protest by doctors, who were demonstrating against the recent sexual assault and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor. The protest, initially peaceful, quickly escalated, resulting in significant damage to the hospital’s emergency ward. The police were forced to fire tear gas and use lathicharge to control the situation as the mob, which included numerous unidentified men, hurled stones at the hospital, injuring several police officers.
The protest was part of a broader nationwide movement demanding justice and safer conditions for women, particularly in light of the brutal murder of the doctor. As the protest intensified, the crowd toppled barricades, and at least two police vehicles were vandalised, with a motorcycle set on fire outside the hospital.
Mamata Banerjee has sent her TMC goons to the apolitical Protest Rally near RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
She thinks that she is the most shrewd person in the whole world and people won’t be able to figure out the cunning plan that her goons appearing as protestors would… pic.twitter.com/1CPI2f1KUr— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) August 14, 2024
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal arrived at the hospital around 2 am, where he accused the media of running a “malicious campaign” that, according to him, contributed to the violence. Goyal denied any mishandling of the investigation, asserting that the police had acted responsibly and had not destroyed any evidence.
The incident has sparked political tensions, with leaders from various parties weighing in. Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, a senior leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), condemned the vandalism and called for swift legal action against those responsible, regardless of their political affiliations. Banerjee stated that the demands of the protesting doctors were fair and justified, and he urged the police to prioritise their safety.
On the other hand, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused the TMC of orchestrating the violence, alleging that “Trinamool goons” were involved and were given “safe passage” by the police to enter the hospital and destroy crucial evidence. Adhikari claimed that this was an attempt to obstruct the investigation.
The protests, which continued peacefully in other parts of Kolkata and West Bengal, were sparked by the murder of the young doctor, whose body was found on August 9. The incident has led to widespread strikes by resident doctors across the country. In response to the public outcry, the Calcutta High Court handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 13. The main suspect, a civic volunteer who frequented the hospital, was arrested on August 10.