Security tightened at North Bengal Medical College & Hospital following Kolkata rape-murder incident
The Statesman | 12 August 2024
In the wake of the recent rape and murder of a female intern at R.G. Kar Medical College, security has been heightened across the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMC&H) campus. An additional 15 female police constables have been deployed to guard the four girls’ hostels on campus. According to Dr. Sandeep Sengupta, Dean of NBMC&H, the constables will be stationed at the hostels in three shifts, with five constables assigned to each shift to ensure continuous surveillance.
Meanwhile, students, junior doctors, and faculty members have been staging protests on the NBMC&H campus since yesterday. They are demanding the resignation of the Principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and a judicial inquiry into the incident. Protesters claim that more than one individual was involved in the crime. The junior doctors are also urging that the final post-mortem report be made public. “The occurrence of such an incident could not have been possible without the involvement of insiders at R.G. Kar Medical College,” said Dr. Sengupta, who was on night duty on Saturday and has been present on the NBMC&H campus since midnight to monitor the situation. Dr. Sengupta highlighted the security vulnerabilities on the NBMC&H campus, which spans over 103 acres.
While the campus is surrounded by boundary walls, some sections are damaged, allowing criminals to potentially enter the premises. He also noted that several buildings under construction could serve as hideouts for criminal activity. “We have spoken to the police officials who visited the campus about the need to strengthen security measures. Although there is a police outpost within the campus, it is understaffed and responsible for overseeing a large area beyond the NBMC&H campus,” Dr. Sengupta added. He further mentioned that there are a sufficient number of CCTV cameras on campus, most of which are operational. However, a few cameras require immediate repairs to ensure full coverage of the area.