Kolkata Police Arrests 9 in Connection with RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Vandalism

The Kolkata Police on Thursday arrested 9 people in connection with the mob vandalism of Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. While the identities of the nine people have not been revealed, the arrests were made after Kolkata Police released photos of people believed to be part of the mob that vandalized the hospital on social media and sought information about them. During an ongoing protest over the brutal rape and murder of a PGT doctor on the premises of the hospital on Thursday, an irate mob stormed into the campus and vandalized and ransacked the emergency department of the institution. 

Large number of Women in Kolkata and many other significant parts of the country had organized a peaceful protest calling it ‘Women, reclaim the night’ on Wednesday night. While the vigil was going on near R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, a mob stormed into the premises of the hospital and went on a rampage. Police vehicles were attacked, the Emergency department of the hospital was completely ransacked and public property was damaged and the police had to resort to a lathicharge as well as firing teargas shells to control the situation. According to Kolkata Police, around 15 policemen were injured during the confrontation. 

Following the episode of mob vandalism, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal came down heavily on the media blaming them for a “wrong and malicious” media trial over the RG Kar rape and murder incident. "What has happened here is because of the wrong media campaign, which has been a malicious media campaign which is going as far as Kolkata police is concerned. What have the Kolkata police not done? It has done everything in this case...Because of a malicious media campaign, Kolkata police have lost the trust of the people…There is so much pressure from the media, I have been very clear that we have done what is right. Now, the CBI is investigating it. They'll do a fair deal. We will give all support to the CBI...,” said Goyal. 

Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose visited the hospital on Thursday and assured the protesting trainee doctors and medical professionals that he will be always standing by them, as the protestors told him that they are feeling traumatized and terrorized following last night’s ransack at the medical college. "I am with you. We will fight it out and not allow these ghastly things. We will take positive action which will be exemplary for others”, said the Governor to the protestors. 

A CBI team which took over the investigation of rape and murder of the PGT student following a Calcutta High Court hearing met with the family of the PGT trainee doctor who was killed. The Kolkata Police had arrested a civic volunteer in the welfare section, Sanjay Roy, considered to be the main accused, who is now in CBI’s custody. The trainee doctor’s body was found in a semi- naked condition last Friday in the seminar hall where she went take rest after having dinner with colleagues.