Kolkata Doctor rape-murder case: What was the mob attack at RG Kar hospital all about?

Kolkata: During a peaceful protest for the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign on the eve of Independence Day, a group of nearly 40-50 miscreants allegedly entered the premises of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, assaulted the protesting doctors and vandalised portions of the medical facility, where the body of a woman doctor was found on August 9.  

The mob carrying sticks and rods damaged the Emergency ward situated on the ground floor of the hospital, its nursing station and medical store, besides a section of the Out Patients Department (OPD). Several CCTV cameras in and around the area were destroyed by the mob who also ransacked a stage where the junior doctors had been demonstrating since August 9 evening following the death of the doctor, news agency PTI reported.

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On the ground floor, the cardiology emergency section, the admissions room, the tele-neuro medicine room, the nurses’ room, the medical officer's room, and the emergency wards were also vandalised. Not only the ground floor but the hospital's ENT department was also ransacked including the ICU ward. 

The incident took place amid midnight protests on Thursday by women against the horrific rape and murder of the doctor at the hospital.

According to the police, a group of nearly 40 people, allegedly disguised as protestors, entered the hospital premises, vandalised property and pelted stones at police personnel prompting them to fire tear gas to disperse the mob.

As per the police, the mob did not reach the fourth floor of the emergency building where the doctor’s body was found in a seminar hall. “Scene of crime is Seminar Room which is intact and has not been touched. Don’t spread fake news. We will take legal action,” the Kolkata Police wrote on X.

A police vehicle and a few two-wheelers at the spot were also damaged in the incident, they said. Some police officers were injured in the violence, an officer said.

“The goons entered the campus and beat up agitating doctors. This was an attempt to break our morale so that we back out from the protest. But such incidents have only strengthened our resolve to fight till the end,” said one of the protesting doctors. He alleged that the vandalism took place even as police personnel were present.

Spurred by the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign, which gained momentum through social media, the protests began at 11.55 pm, aligning with Independence Day celebrations, and spread across key areas in both small towns and big cities, including several landmarks in Kolkata.

Later, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal reached the spot at around 2 am.

BJP leader and leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the vandalism was carried out by “TMC goons” sent by party supremo Mamata Banerjee.

“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 mix with the crowd and carry out vandalism inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital,” Adhikari said in a post on X.

Adhikari also alleged that the miscreants were given safe passage by the police.

“They were given safe passage by the Police, who either ran away or looked the other way so that these lumpens would enter the hospital premises and destroy areas containing crucial evidence so that it doesn’t get picked up by the CBI,” he alleged in the post.

19 arrested so far

Kolkata Police on Friday said it has so far arrested 19 people in connection with the vandalism and violence at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in the metropolis. Those arrested were remanded to police custody by a city court till August 22, officials said.

Taking to social media Kolkata Police today said, "19 arrests so far in RG Kar hospital vandalism. Five of them were identified by social media feedback. If you recognise any of the suspects from our earlier posts, kindly inform us. Thank you for your support and trust."

As per ANI, Yesterday, police shared pictures of suspects who were allegedly involved in vandalising equipment at the hospital.

Taking to social media Kolkata Police posted, "Information wanted: Anyone who can help identify the individuals circled in red in the images below is requested to do so, either directly to us or through your local Police Station."

They also shared a video asking for help in identifying the miscreants seen attacking the barricades.

They shared that the scene of the crime had not been touched and warned that legal action would be taken for spreading rumours.

Doctors to continue protest

Even after the shocking mob attack at the hospital where doctors were also beaten and threatened, junior doctors and students declared to continue their protest without hesitation. 

As per The Telegraph news report,  the doctors said anyone who thought the protesting doctors would be cowed down by the attack and arson in the hospital was mistaken. “This attack will only strengthen our resolve to seek justice for the rape and murder of one of our colleagues,” a young doctor said on Thursday.

“They vandalised the general emergency and the ENT departments. They tried to shake our spirit but failed to do that. We need your help. Support us so we get justice for our colleague,” a young doctor told the governor who visited the campus assuring the doctors of justice. 

“We will continue with our cease-work. We request people from all walks of the society to join us and support our movement,” said Aniket Mahato, a postgraduate trainee.

Another doctor said, “If anyone thought we would back off from the protests because of the vandalism, they are mistaken. We are firm in our resolve.”

“They started thrashing patients, doctors and whoever was in front of them. All of us were hiding in whatever places we could. They have vandalised the chairs and fans where we are holding our demonstration. We are afraid for what happened but our movement will not stop. It will continue,” said Hassan Mushtaq, a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar.

“A mob carried out the vandalism while we were staging a peaceful protest. Why did the police allow this? We called all police officers associated with the hospital when the mob was on the rampage but none took our calls,” said a junior doctor.

An attempt to destroy evidence: Sukanta Majumdar

West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Thursday alleged that vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was an attempt to destroy evidence.

Majumdar claimed that 2,000-2,500 goons entered the medical college late at night, beating and threatening doctors, while police remained silent.

He also attacked the Trinamool Congress-led government for failing to maintain law and order in the state saying "If a state government is unable to maintain law and order in its capital, then it has no right to remain in power."

"There is no law and order in West Bengal. 2000-2500 goons barged into the medical college late at night. Doctors were beaten up and threatened, the police remained silent. If a state government is unable to maintain law and order in its capital, then it has no right to remain in power...Attempts were made to destroy evidence...I will reach the RG Kar Medical College tomorrow and protest," Majumdar told ANI.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Left is colluding with the Ram (the Bharatiya Janata Party) and is trying to create unrest in West Bengal.

"Left and Ram want to create unrest in Bengal and they both have come together to do this," She said while referring to the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday.

The Bengal chief minister said that the mob were not connected to the student movement and alleged that "they are BJP people" who created a ruckus inside the emergency ward of the hospital.

"The people who vandalised RG Kar Hospital yesterday and created this ruckus are not connected to the student movement of RG Kar Medical College, they are outsiders, I have seen as many videos, I have three videos as I can see, in which some people are holding national flags, they are BJP people, and some are DYFI are holding white and red flags," CM Banerjee said.

BJP’s Suvendu writes to Centre, seeks security by CAPFs

Leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP on Thursday wrote to the Centre, seeking security by paramilitary forces at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospitals which was vandalised amid the ongoing protest against the rape and murder of a doctor.

In his letter to the Union home secretary, Adhikari said it was the duty of the police to protect the crime scene and provide security to the people working and patients being treated at the hospital, but they “miserably failed”.

“….due to their incompetence, rather than protecting innocent citizens, they were locking themselves up in toilets, leaving the entire hospital exposed to the rioters,” he said.

“Furthermore, after the mob had completed their riotous run, for a sham show the police started firing tear gas, which further testifies the fact that the police authorities were hand in glove with the rioters and such to make a show of taking action, the said tear gas shells were fired. The role of Kolkata Police and its Commissioner is suspect (suspicious),” he alleged.

As per PTI, Adhikari said the manner in which the vandalism took place in the early hours of Thursday, it clearly indicated that it was pre-planned.

“In view thereof, I request you to forthwith deploy Central Armed Paramilitary Forces at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital to protect valuable evidence such that a proper investigation is conducted and concluded by the CBI…,” he said.

The TMC, however, claimed that the vandalism at the hospital, which was rocked by protests following the rape and murder of the doctor, was a conspiracy hatched by the BJP and CPI(M).

“The CBI has taken over the investigation and the state has extended all cooperation to the agency. BJP leaders like Suvendu are trying to fish in murky waters. They are desperate after facing rejection from the people of Bengal in every election,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed.

Medical Dialogues yesterday reported that the Calcutta High Court transferred the case for further investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after there was no significant development in the police investigation of the rape and murder case of RG Kar PG Respiratory Medicine doctor.

The half-naked body of the deceased was recovered from the seminar hall of the hospital on Friday morning. A preliminary autopsy report indicated sexual abuse before she was killed. As per the inquest report, there was bleeding from the doctor's eyes and mouth, injury on the face and nails, bleeding from her genitals, and several other injury marks on different parts of her body. After this doctors across the country started a massive protest demanding justice for their colleague's rape and murder.  

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