Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Mob tries to destroy crime scene at RG Kar Medical College, 9 arrested

• Image Credit: Google

• Aug 15, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

The police reported that a group of 40–50 people, posing as protesters, invaded the hospital late Wednesday night and damaged property. 

Digital Desk: Nurses at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday held a protest after a mob vandalized part of the state-run facility where a trainee doctor was discovered dead last week. The hospital's emergency ward was left in chaos, with medical equipment and furniture destroyed.

Kolkata Police stated that the crime scene of the 31-year-old doctor's brutal rape and murder remained intact, and 9 individuals have been arrested in connection with the vandalism. The police reported that a group of 40–50 people, posing as protesters, invaded the hospital late Wednesday night and damaged property. In response, officers used tear gas and lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

The unrest coincided with the 'Reclaim the Night' campaign, where women marched through the streets at midnight to protest the doctor’s murder and gathered at the hospital.

Latest Developments at RG Kar Hospital:

• Kolkata Police have detained 9 individuals involved in the hospital violence. They are currently reviewing CCTV footage to gather more information.

• The Indian Medical Association issued a statement accusing the authorities of negligence and alleging that the attack was an attempt to target protesting medical students.

• Police clarified that the crime scene of the doctor's murder was not disturbed during the vandalism and warned against spreading false information.

• The CBI, which is investigating the murder, visited the victim’s residence and plans to inspect RG Kar Hospital later to assess any impact on the sealed area.

• Hospital nurses protested the vandalism, with one nurse claiming the mob attempted to break into the seminar room where the crime occurred and alleging that two police officers asked them to conceal their presence during the chaos.

• The incident has sparked a political clash between the BJP and the ruling TMC, with the BJP demanding West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee condemning the violence and calling for swift action against the perpetrators.

• During the attack, the mob, armed with sticks and rods, damaged the Emergency ward, the Out Patients Department (OPD), a police outpost, and vehicles. The police used lathicharge and tear gas to control the situation, and Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal criticized media coverage for exacerbating the situation.

• The semi-naked body of the 31-year-old trainee doctor was discovered on August 9 in the hospital's seminar hall. Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with connections to the Kolkata Police, has been arrested.