Kolkata doctor rape and murder highlights: Twelve persons detained for vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital

A resident doctors’ federation announced to continue its protest in Delhi, a day after medics slammed it for calling off the agitation following the health ministry’s “verbal” assurance to meet its demands, including bringing a law to curb attacks on medical personnel.

Resident doctors across major government hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS, VMMC-Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, shut down elective services on Monday morning and went on strike, demanding better security and safety measures for medical personnel, and the central law.

The announcement by the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Associations (FORDA) came after Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDAs) of many hospitals on Wednesday accused it of taking the decision to end the protest without consulting them and “backstabbing” the medical fraternity.

- PTI

Former chief of Delhi Commission for Women Swati Maliwal has written a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure severe punishment for the accused and also for those who are trying to save them.

”The inhuman atrocities inflicted upon this young woman have brought shame upon humanity and triggered widespread protests across the country. As someone who has long advocated for the protection of women’s rights, I have been following this case with close attention, and the more I learn, the deeper my revulsion grows,” Swati Maliwal wrote in a letter to the West Bengal CM.

- ANI

The CPI(M)-led Left Front on Thursday demanded the resignation of CM Mamata Banerjee as West Bengal’s Health and Home minister over the violence at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Chief Minister Banerjee holds the Health and Home portfolios.

- PTI

Police have so far detained twelve persons for their alleged involvement in the incident.

- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused opposition political parties of being behind the vandalism.

Mr. Banerjee said she does not hold the students or doctors responsible for their protests and instead, she accused certain political parties of attempting to incite trouble.

“Police are looking into the matter. I don’t have any complaints against the students or the agitating doctors. But there are certain political parties which are trying to foment trouble. If you go through the video, you will get to see what happened,” she said.

- PTI

Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan condemned the gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. Taking to Instagram, Kareena wrote, “12 years later; the same story; the same protest. But we are still waiting for change.”

- ANI

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shatrughan Sinha praised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, describing her as a woman of substance and a symbol of women empowerment. He also criticised the BJP, accusing the party of being ‘desperate and frustrated’ in its continuous attacks on the Chief Minister over incidents in the state.

Mr. Sinha said that Mamata Banerjee was an example of ‘women empowerment’ who faced numerous challenges to achieve success as a leader and said that the entire nation takes pride in her accomplishments. “There is only one woman CM in the entire country and we talk about women empowerment. Mamata Banerjee is a woman of substance and she has struggled a lot to reach this position. She proved herself as a successful leader. The entire country is proud of her,” he said.

- ANI

Communist Party of India leader Annie Raja on August 15 condemned the mob violence at the Kolkata hospital where a woman was brutally raped and murdered last week.

“We condemn such mob violence which took place last night. Who should have prevented that? Who is responsible for the law and order situation? It is the State government,” Annie Raja, the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) General Secretary told PTI.

Ms. Raja lamented that while political blame games take place after such incidents, no concrete action is taken to ensure safety of women. “Until and unless all political parties take it as a serious political issue, this can’t be addressed. Finally, who are the victims? Who are the sufferers? It is the women and the girls,” she said.

Demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the BJP said its women’s wing will hold a candlelight rally to her residence on August 16 in protest.

Alleging that law and order has “failed” in the State, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said that the saffron party will also hold a sit-in demonstration near RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a woman postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered last week, leading to huge protests.

He said that the BJP’s women’s wing will hold a candlelight rally to Ms. Banerjee’s south Kolkata residence at Kalighat from Hazra crossing on Friday to protest the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital in the early hours of Thursday. - PTI

West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose said that the vandalism in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata is a shame to civil society.

Unidentified miscreants vandalised a part of the hospital where a woman doctor was found dead allegedly after being raped last week.

Mr. Bose paid a visit to the Hospital today (August 15, 2024) afternoon to take stock of the situation. He spoke to the agitating doctors there and expressed concern over the security of women in the State.

“Yesterday’s vandalism is a shame to civil society. It’s a shame to the entire humanity that young girls are not protected. This bloodbath cannot be allowed anymore. This must stop,” Mr. Bose told reporters at the hospital.

“I am with you and we will work together to solve this. I assure you justice. My ears and eyes are open,” Mr. Bose told the students.

The Governor also inspected the Emergency Department which was ransacked. — PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 said State governments should act on crimes against women with “utmost urgency” and called for instilling deterrence among perpetuators, his comments coming in the backdrop of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.

“Crimes against women should be probed swiftly, and stringent punishment given to those who commit such demonic acts,” PM Modi said, stressing the need for societal introspection and creating fear of consequences among perpetrators. - PTI

West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Thursday said, “I will try to reconcile conflicts and bring justice to the protesting doctors.”

The Bengal governor said he had sent a letter the CM on August 13 with regard to give protection to the medical fraternity.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate has sharply criticised the West Bengal government over the recent rape and murder of a female doctor, questioning why the local administration allegedly attempted to cover up the crime.

“The incident was extremely unfortunate. What happened to the woman doctor raises a critical question: Where is the safety for women, who constitute half the population? What is happening to women in this country? Why did the local administration try to cover up the crime? The violence we saw yesterday is unacceptable and it is not the answer to anything,” Ms. Shrinate, the chairperson of social media and digital platforms in Congress’ communication department, told ANI. 

A group of at least 20 doctors from various State-run medical establishments in Kolkata called on West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on August 15 and sought his intervention after unidentified miscreants vandalised a portion of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, an official said.

The doctors, mostly women, also told Mr. Bose that they were feeling insecure.

The vandalism took place amid midnight protests by women in various parts of the state against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Hospital last week. - PTI

Official sources said that West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose will be visiting the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital after it was vandalized by a mob on August 14 night. “We will take positive action, which will be acceptable to all. You will get justice,” said Mr. Bose to protesting doctors.

- Shiv Sahay Singh

After an unidentified mob vandalised the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) issued a statement condemning the violence. The IMA has stated that such vandalism with impunity points to anarchy. The IMA lashed out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government saying that the state government is directly responsible for this collapse of public order. 

“RG Kar Medical College which is at the centre of national attention for the past week due to the rape and murder of the Chest medicine PG student has been vandalised by hooligans. The protesting young medical students have been targeted. The authorities who by their negligence had allowed such a heinous crime to happen have once again failed to maintain law and order when the all-important CBI investigations are going on,” the IMA stated. 

“Such vandalism with impunity points to anarchy and the breaking down of law and order. The state Government is directly responsible for this collapse of public order. IMA condemns this mindless violence and is apprehensive of the loss of crucial evidence. IMA has called for an emergency consultation meeting with all its state branches today to chart out further action,” the IMA added further.- ANI

After an unidentified mob vandalised the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the newly appointed principal, Suhrita Pal said on Thursday (August 15, 2024) that she doesn’t know anything about the people who initiated vandalism at the hospital.”If you know anything, please tell me. I don’t know anything about them,” she said. Ms. Pal, speaking on Independence Day said, “I am going for flag hoisting.”. - ANI

Telangana Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya aka Seethakka expressed solidarity with doctors protesting at Gandhi Hospital over the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata.

She visited the hospital and addressed the protesting doctors. She said that the incident was ‘shocking’ and a ‘disgrace’ to society, emphasising the urgent need to address atrocities against women, which she likened to pushing society back to the middle ages. Read more

Kolkata Police on Thursday (August 15, 2024) clarified that the crime scene of the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College in the city had not been disturbed during the mob vandalism that broke out late on the night of August 14. In a post on ‘X’, the Kolkata Police said, “The crime scene is the seminar room and it has not been touched. Don’t spread unverified news. We will initiate legal action for spreading rumours.” _ ANI

The BJP on Thursday (August 15,2024) demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the vandalism at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where junior doctors were on cease work protesting the alleged rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee last week. 

“When peaceful citizens of West Bengal took to the streets, vicious thugs, in a premeditated strike, ransacked RG Kar Hospital, leaving chaos and injuries in their wake,” the BJP said in an X post. 

“Where was Kolkata Police during this brutal assault? Hiding in the shadows, only to emerge after the damage was done. This is a gross dereliction of duty! Instead of owning up to their failure, they have the audacity to scapegoat the movement and the media,” the BJP said.- PTI

Nurses protested vandalism at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Thursday (August 15, 2024) morning, hours after unidentified miscreants ransacked a part of the medical establishment where a woman doctor was found dead last week.

The vandalism took place amid midnight protests by women in various parts of the state against the alleged rape and murder of the doctor in the seminar hall of the hospital.

Nurses at the hospital protested the vandalism and demanded proper security on the premises.

“Such hooliganism inside a hospital is unacceptable,” one of the protesting nurses said. - PTI

a final year MBBS student from Kolkata Anupam Roy, on Thursday, accused the mob of deliberately vandalising the crime spot and sought the support of the public for extending support to ensure a secured environment for doctors.” Yesterday we were having a peaceful protest, we had planned to arrange a rally of female nurses, doctors and students. When we were getting ready to start the rally, a huge mob came. We requested them to continue their rally and not try to interfere here as there are female protestors. Then the mob tried to get into our protest, shockingly there used to be a lot of police when protests used to happen but when the mob arrived, there was a very small number of police personnel present at the spot.’

“When the mob entered we ran to look for the safe places to hide. The mob vandalised everything. They did not stop there. The mob went to the crime spot. we were shocked that the mob just came to tamper with the evidence and break the protest in a targeted and organised way”, the students said. - ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there is a need to widely publicise punishments given for atrocities against women, so that there is a fear of consequence.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on 78th Independence Day, Modi said his government has worked on a “women-led development model,” but he was still concerned over incidents of rape and violence against women.

Mr. Modi’s remarks assumes significance amid the nationwide protests over the rape and murder of the woman doctors in Kolkata.

The Prime Minister said there is anger among people against such incidents.

“We have worked on a women-led development model. Whether it is innovation, employment, entrepreneurship, in every sector women are marching ahead,” Mr. Modi said.

“Today from the Red Fort, I want to express my pain. As a society, we will have to think seriously about the atrocities against our mothers, sisters and daughters. There is anger among common people because of this. I can feel that rage,” he said.

The PM said the country must take such incidents seriously and the fear of reprisal must be struck among the perpetrators.

“Need of hour is to widely publicise punishment for atrocities against women so that there is fear of consequences,” he said.

“Those who commit such sins should know that they will be hanged. It is important to have that fear,” Mr. Modi added. - PTI

An uneasy calm prevailed at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Thursday morning, hours after unidentified miscreants vandalised a part of the medical establishment where a woman doctor was found dead last week, police said.

The vandalism took place amid midnight protests by women in various parts of the state against the alleged rape and murder of the doctor in the seminar hall of the hospital.

“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.

According to the police, nearly 40 people, masquerading as protestors, entered the hospital premises, vandalized property, and pelted the police personnel present with stones, prompting the force to burst tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. - PTI

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana penned a heart-wrenching poem on women’s safety.Taking to his Instagram account on Wednesday, Ayushmann shared a video reciting the poem, which reflected the pain and fear many women feel in today’s society.His poem reads, “Main bhi bina Kundi lagakar soti, Kaash main bhi ladka hoti, Jhalli banke daudti udti, Saari raat doston ke saath phirti, Kaash main bhi ladka hoti...” (I would sleep without locking the door, I wish I were a boy. Carefree, I would run and fly, Roaming with friends all night, I wish I were a boy... - ANI

The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) has written to Health Minister J.P. Nadda, stating that the crime exposed the alarming lack of security on hospital premises. “The medical fraternity has long been subjected to escalating assaults in hospitals across India,’‘ it said in its letter.

FAIMA is demanding the immediate constitution of a committee to draft an Act, highlighting the need for a legislative framework that ensures comprehensive protection for doctors and healthcare professionals across India, a safe working environment for all, and addresses the rising incidents of violence against healthcare providers. Read more

The recent horrific rape and murder of the Kolkata postgraduate medical student in what should have been a haven for her — a State-run hospital she was working in — must give the nation pause. The state and circumstances in which the body was found leave no room for any doubt that it was a most dastardly violent act, and brazen in that it occurred within a hall in the supposedly safe confines of the government medical college hospital. Read the full Editorial

After a violent mob vandalised vehicles and the building of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal lashed out at the media, alleging that what happened was the result of ‘wrong and malicious media campaign’. 

Addressing media, Goyal said, “My DCP, who was protecting the boys, is unconscious and what has happened here is because of the wrong, malicious media campaign, which has been going as far as Kolkata police are concerned. What Kolkata Police not done?” 

This came after a mob entered the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital campus, damaging the protesting site and public property, forcing security officials to disperse the mob.Goyal further stated that the Kolkata police have done everything under his command and have also arrested the main accused in the case.” 

In this case, they have done everything and I am saying everything under my command. My men have worked day and night to collect evidence. They have collected the best evidence. The main accused have been arrested,” he said.He further said that he was extremely angry about the rumours spread on this issue and added that due to the malicious media campaign, the people have lost trust in Kolkata Police.- ANI

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj said that the INDIA bloc supports and protects the ‘corrupt and rapists’ and that they are an anti-women and anti-social alliance. Speaking to ANI, Ms. Swaraj said, “INDIA alliance is an alliance that only supports and protects the corrupt and the rapists. This is an anti-women and anti-social alliance. Despite having a woman CM in West Bengal, TMC leaders dishonoured the mothers and sisters in Sandeshkhali in the TMC office.”

Further, she added that the rape and murder of the doctor in Kolkata is a shocking incident and made the souls of the people tremble. “The Kolkata rape and murder incident of the doctor has left souls trembling in the country. A couple of days ago, a 15-year-old girl was also raped by the SP leader in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress party does not even take a minute when it comes to raising the slogans of ‘ Ladki hoon, Lad Sakti hoon,’ but when it comes to incidents in places like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and even Delhi, they fall silent,” she said.

ANI

Civic Volunteer Sanjoy Roy, who was arrested in the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, was allegedly addicted to pornography and his mobile phone had several such contents, police said.

Amid the uproar over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the attempt to save the accused instead of providing justice to the victim raises serious questions on the hospital and the local administration.

“They have completely vandalised our protest site. Our days of protest have been destroyed and it’s now broken down to the ground,” a postgraduate student said.

Protesting doctors who were hiding inside the hospital issued a video statement saying that they were terrified and sought intervention from the police and administration. The police had to resort to tear gas shelling but were unable to control the mob.

Out-patient departments and services remained shut in private and government hospitals across West Bengal. Doctors closed services to show solidarity for the doctor who was raped and murdered in Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. Several doctors of private hospitals also held marches on the EM Bypass Road.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (August 14, 2024) sought immediate resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, asserting that attempts were made to destroy the evidence in the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital to Kolkata.

Some excesses are more excessive than others; it is fair to count rape among the most egregious violations of human rights. The recent horrific rape and murder of the Kolkata postgraduate medical student in what should have been a haven for her — a State-run hospital she was working in — must give the nation pause. 

Read the opinion piece here

- Shiv Sahay Singh

- Shiv Sahay Singh

“What has happened here is because of a malicious media campaign against Kolkata Police. What has Kolkata Police not done? We have never said that there is one person. But scientific evidence takes time. I can not arrest any persons on the basis of rumours. We have been transparent. The case has now been transferred to CBI. The motivated media campaign has put Kolkata Police in poor light. I am telling you from the core of my heart that we have not tried to save anyone,” said Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal.

- Shiv Sahay Singh

- Shiv Sahay Singh

- Shiv Sahay Singh

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