In the early hours of Thursday morning, unknown individuals broke into the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a state-run facility in Kolkata, and damaged parts of the property. This occurred shortly after midnight when the hospital had already become a focal point of protests over the recent rape and murder of a female doctor. Police reports indicate that around 40 people, who were reportedly disguised as protesters, entered the hospital grounds. They vandalized the premises, threw stones at police officers, and caused damage to a police vehicle and several motorcycles. In response, the police used tear gas to control the situation. A few officers also sustained injuries during the chaos.
A senior Kolkata Police officer told PTI that a sufficient number of personnel are stationed outside the hospital to manage the unrest. The officer emphasized that they are prepared to handle the situation appropriately.
The protests, driven by ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign and fueled by social media, started at 11:55 pm, coinciding with Independence Day celebrations. The demonstrations spread across various regions, including several landmarks in Kolkata.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal arrived at the scene around 2 am. Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee urged Goyal to identify and prosecute those responsible for the violence within 24 hours, regardless of their political ties, PTI reported. Banerjee condemned the vandalism as excessive and stressed the need for heightened safety measures for doctors.
In contrast, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused TMC members of orchestrating the vandalism. He claimed that TMC supporters disguised as protesters were responsible for the damage and alleged that the police facilitated their entry to the hospital. Adhikari also suggested that the police allowed the destruction to obstruct the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which was recently ordered by the Calcutta High Court to take over the case.
The incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital follows the shocking rape and murder of a 32-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor, whose body was discovered on August 9 in a seminar hall of the hospital. A civic volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime.