'Crime scene not disturbed', says Kolkata Police after vandalism at RG Kar Medical College
Times of India | 15 August 2024
Kolkata Police clarified on Thursday that the crime scene of the junior doctor's rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College was not disturbed during the mob vandalism on August 14. NEW DELHI: The Kolkata police clarified on Thursday that the crime scene of the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College remains undisturbed despite the mob vandalism on the night of August 14. The incident led to accusations against the mob, demands for ensuring a secure environment for doctors, and criticism from the public and political leaders.
In a post on 'X', the Kolkata police stated, "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."
Anupam Roy, a final-year MBBS student from Kolkata, accused the mob of deliberately vandalizing the area and sought public support to ensure a secure 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 as there are female protestors. Then the mob tried to get into our protest," Roy alleged.
On Wednesday night, a mob entered the RG Kar hospital campus, vandalized the protest site, and attacked vehicles and public property, forcing security officials to disperse them.
Roy further alleged, "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 just came to break the protest in a targeted and organised way."
Late on August 14, Kolkata commissioner of police Vineet Goyal addressed the issue, stating that police could not arrest anyone just based on rumors.
"I can't just arrest an intern based on some kind of rumour, it's against my conscience... As far as I am concerned, my team is concerned we have done what is right. Now the case is already gone... CBI will be investigating it... We have been transparent with everyone... We wanted the students to form a seven-member committee on Sunday to share everything with them but they haven't come up with the committee till today. It's the most unfortunate thing--the motivated media campaign that was being run has portrayed the Kolkata police in a very bad light. We are always with the people of Kolkata, but unfortunately, this kind of incident wouldn't have happened if this kind of malicious campaign wasn't run by the media...We have not tried to save anyone," said the Kolkata commissioner of police.
Earlier, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee expressed outrage over the mob violence.
"The hooliganism and vandalism at RG Kar tonight have exceeded all acceptable limits," Banerjee stated.
In a post on 'X,' the TMC General Secretary shared that he has urged the Kolkata commissioner of police to identify and arrest everyone responsible for the violence within the next 24 hours.
"As a public representative, I just spoke with the Kolkata CP, urging him to ensure that every individual responsible for today's violence is identified, held accountable, and made to face the law within the next 24 hours, regardless of their political affiliation," he said.
He further emphasized that the demands of the doctors were reasonable.
"The demands of the protesting doctors are fair and justified. This is the minimum they should expect from the government. Their safety and security must be prioritised," Banerjee added.
On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The victim's family alleged that she was raped and murdered. The incident has triggered nationwide protests by doctors and medical fraternities.
The outrage, accusations, and commitment to addressing the violence and ensuring the safety of doctors underscore the gravity of the incident and its repercussions on the medical community and the broader public.