Our job is done: CISF wants to hand over RG Kar security charge
Times of India | 6 March 2025
Kolkata: Six months after the Supreme Court ordered the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, the central force wants to be relieved of the charge and hand over the hospital's security back to Kolkata Police.
Senior CISF officers told TOI that its job, entrusted by the apex court, was done and that the state govt had put in place adequate security measures at the hospital, including a central command and control centre and proper CCTV coverage.
CISF is now waiting for the court's order to withdraw the deployment at the only such hospital in the country.
"We are not meant to guard a hospital but have been doing so on the court's directive. Now that the security improvements are in place, we hope an appropriate agency, possibly the Ministry of Home Affairs, will approach the Supreme Court to secure an order for our withdrawal," the officer said.
The CISF, primarily responsible for safeguarding critical infrastructure such as airports, ports, nuclear plants, and public sector units, was deployed at RG Kar following the apex court's order in response to junior doctors expressing safety concerns in the aftermath of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor last Aug. The storming of the hospital premises six days later by a mob left the doctors further rattled.
The twin incidents triggered widespread outrage. The court was particularly critical about the deployment of civic volunteers as one of them, Sanjay Roy, was convicted of the crime.
Subsequently,a troop of 180-odd CISF personnel took charge at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.
Those unarmed are posted at all buildings, including emergency, trauma care, gynae, general OPD building, the girls' hostel, oxygen plant, and radiotherapy buildings, while those armed, including women, are deployed at the gates and patrol the hospital premises.
"Our role here has been way different from our usual responsibilities. In a hospital setting, we do not enforce access control, meaning we do not check individuals' credentials or documents at entry and exit points. However, our primary duty, as mandated by the Supreme Court, was to enhance security within the hospital, and that we have been doing diligently. All our personnel remain in uniform, ensuring the safety of doctors, patients, and staff within the premises," said a senior CISF officer.
The CISF team at RG Kar Hospital is led by an assistant commandant. Currently, three companies of CISF are posted at the hospital.
While a small section of the unit was requisitioned from the CISF's Durgapur and Burnpur units, the majority of the personnel posted in the hospital are from Kolkata, previously posted at Victoria Memorial and Indian Museum.
Senior CISF officials asserted that the state govt has significantly improved security measures at the campus since Aug.
"Breaches in the perimeter wall have been sealed, and proper access control measures have been implemented to prevent unauthorised personnel from entering sensitive areas, including the doctors' quarters. They have followed almost every guideline the SC had issued," the officer said.
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