'I don't know anything ...' : Newly appointed principal of RG Kar Medical College on mob vandalism
Times of India | 15 August 2024
NEW DELHI: Unidentified mob members vandalized RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on late Wednesday night, prompting newly appointed principal Suhrita Pal to express she is in the dark about the perpetrators.
This incident comes in the wake of protests triggered by the resignation of former principal Sandip Ghosh, who stepped down amid defamatory accusations on social media linked to the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor on the hospital premises.
Speaking on Independence Day, Suhrita Pal remarked, "If you know anything, please tell me. I don't know anything about them." She added, "I am going for flag hoisting. We should honour our national flag."
Former principal Sandip Ghosh had to submit a leave application following his appointment to a new position at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
His sudden move from RG Kar College spurred protests. Ghosh resigned on Monday, citing defamation on social media after the rape and murder incident.
Meanwhile, the nurses at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have been demanding enhanced security following the mob violence on Wednesday, which occurred during a protest over the trainee doctor's rape and murder.
The nurses expressed their concerns, stating, "We need security, we don't want to hamper patient care."
A hospital staff member, speaking to ANI, became emotional as he recounted the incident. "Some people came and broke everything and went away. A protest was going on and despite the police, those people broke everything. This is a very bad incident. When I came at 4:00 am, I saw that they had broken everything and left. This is my workplace and I feel like crying when I see this. Many poor people come here and I feel very bad for them."
The Kolkata Police have clarified that the crime scene related to the rape and murder case remains undisturbed despite the mob's vandalism on the night of August 14.
"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," stated Kolkata Police in a post on ‘X’.
On the night of August 14, a mob infiltrated the RG Kar hospital campus, vandalized the protest site, and damaged vehicles and public property, forcing security officials to intervene and disperse the crowd.
The incident follows the discovery of a post-graduate trainee doctor's body on August 9 in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The victim's family has alleged that she was raped and murdered, sparking nationwide protests by doctors and medical fraternities.