The case of rape and subsequent murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital is gaining momentum. The case has become more complicated after the violent protests and vandalism on Wednesday night. The CBI team has gathered to solve this Kolkata case and the interrogation process has also started. On Thursday, while the CBI interrogated three batchmates of the deceased trainee doctor, the team also took RG Kar Medical College Principal Surhita Paul to the CGO Complex for further interrogation. Meanwhile, amid these major developments, the IMA has announced a nationwide strike. Earlier in the day, FORDA (Federation of Resident Doctors Association) has also announced a strike.
IMA announced strike
The Indian Medical Association has announced a nationwide strike on August 17. IMA will go on strike over the murder of a female doctor in Kolkata. Along with declaring hospitals as safe zones, IMA has demanded the government to immediately implement the Central Protection Act. IMA will also protest against the violence that took place last night at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. All services will remain closed for 24 hours from 6 am on Saturday 17.08.2024 to 6 am on Sunday 18.08.2024.
FORDA again announced strike
Resident doctors of RG Kar Medical College have alleged that the hospital administration is tampering with evidence. They shared the video and said that the seminar hall has been vandalized. Let us tell you that even before this FORDA (Federation of Resident Doctors Association) had called for a strike, the effect of which was seen in hospitals across the country, but after the violence and vandalism that took place in RG Kar Hospital on Wednesday night, FORDA has again decided to go on strike. FORDA has said that the government is not able to ensure the safety of health workers during work. Both the central and state governments have failed in this matter, which we strongly condemn.
These allegations were made against the government
It is a big failure of the government that it is not able to give due respect to our commitments and service. FORDA said that, given the seriousness of the recent developments and the demand for justice, we have decided to resume the strike with immediate effect. For this, we are working with the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) and other stakeholders.
CBI questioned the three batchmates of the deceased trainee doctor
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday questioned three batchmates in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. These are the same batchmates who were on duty on the night when the tragic incident took place. According to sources, the CBI team questioned these doctors for several hours to get to the bottom of the case. This questioning was done when new evidence and information came to light during the investigation related to the murder of the doctor.
The vandalism happened on Wednesday night
Earlier on Thursday, doctors at the hospital protested in front of the administrative building. They surrounded the building and did not allow the principal and superintendent to go out. The protesting doctors demanded a clear answer from the authorities on the vandalism and violence that took place in the hospital in the early hours of Thursday.
Doctors in panic
According to the police, a group of about 40-50 people, under the guise of protest, entered the hospital premises late on Wednesday night and vandalised it. Due to this, the situation remains tense. The police fired tear gas and lathicharged to control the violence. This violent incident has created an atmosphere of fear and chaos in the hospital. This incident happened when a group of women took to the streets at midnight under the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign to protest against the murder of the doctor. They gathered in the hospital premises and demonstrated their anger.
CBI questioned the principal
After hours of questioning, the CBI team took RG Kar Medical College Principal Surhita Paul to the CGO Complex for further questioning. This action was taken to investigate the matter in depth and get more information from the persons concerned. The team of the central investigating agency also met the protesting students after reaching RG Kar Medical College. They assured the students that the matter will be investigated impartially and thoroughly, so that the culprits can be brought to justice.
The incident and the subsequent uproar has created a stir in the medical community of Kolkata, and all eyes are now on the CBI investigation. Doctors and students are demanding justice, while the CBI is trying to solve the case.
12 accused have been arrested so far
Three more accused were arrested on Thursday evening in connection with the vandalism at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, taking the total number of arrested accused to 12. All the arrested persons were produced in court and sent to police custody till August 22.
Doctors are angry after the incident of vandalism
There is anger among the doctors after the incident of vandalism in the emergency ward of the medical college. On Thursday, the doctors protested outside the hospital. The doctors surrounded the administrative building. Also, the principal and superintendent were not allowed to come out of the building. The protesters demanded an explanation from the officials about the vandalism in the hospital. Apart from this, the nurses of the hospital also protested.
A mob of 40-50 people vandalized the hospital
At the same time, Kolkata Police said that 12 people have been arrested in the case of brutality and murder of a 31-year-old lady doctor. Police said that under the guise of protest, a mob of about 40-50 people stormed the hospital premises late on Wednesday night and damaged property. Policemen fired tear gas shells and lathicharged to disperse the crowd.
Case registered in three police stations of Kolkata
According to Kolkata Police, three separate cases have been registered in three different police stations of Kolkata in connection with the attack on RG Kar Hospital. The first case has been registered in Ultadanga Police Station under Section 191(2)/191(3)/190/189(5)/195/132/121(1)/109/324(5) of BNS, Section 3 of PDPP Act and Section 9 of the Public Order Maintenance Act and Section 25 of Arms Act.
The second case was registered at Tala police station under Sections 191(2)/191(3)/190/189(5)/195/132/121(1)/109/324(5) of the BNS, Section 3 of the PDPP Act, Section 9 of the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, Section 25 of the Arms Act, Section 4 of the West Bengal Medical Service Persons and Medical Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2009.
The third case was registered at Shyampukur police station under sections 191(1)/191(3)/190/121(1)/132/224/324(4)/285 of the IPC and section 3 of the PDPP Act. However, no complaint has been received from the hospital yet. So far 12 accused have been arrested in this case, all the accused have been sent to judicial custody till August 22. At the same time, 5 more accused have been taken into custody.
Big updates on the RG Kar Hospital vandalism case
1- Kolkata Police has arrested 12 people in connection with the violence at RG Kar Hospital. Sources said that the police have also recovered several CCTV footage and they are being thoroughly investigated.
2- The Indian Medical Association has accused the authorities of negligence. The IMA said that the mob attack was an attempt to target young medical students who were protesting against the murder of the trainee doctor.
3- Kolkata Police said in a post on X that the crime scene of the brutality and murder of the lady doctor during the violence was not disturbed. Police said that the crime scene has not been touched. We will initiate legal action for spreading rumors.
4- The CBI team probing the doctor’s murder reached the victim’s house on Thursday. The agency also visited the hospital. During this, the CBI team went to the fourth floor of the Chest Medicine Department to check whether the seminar hall where the junior doctor was murdered was safe from the vandalism that took place last night.
5- On Thursday morning, nurses at the hospital protested against the vandalism. A nurse said the mob wanted to enter the seminar room where the crime took place. She also alleged that two policemen asked the nurses to hide them when the mob created a ruckus.
6- After this incident, a war of words has started between BJP and the ruling TMC. BJP has demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. At the same time, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said that hooliganism and vandalism in RG Kar have crossed all limits. Kolkata Police has been asked to identify the culprits and punish them within 24 hours.
7- In the late night attack on the hospital, a mob wielding sticks vandalised the emergency ward and a part of the outpatient department (OPD). The police post in the hospital was also vandalised and vehicles were damaged. The police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob. Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goel said that the ‘malicious’ campaign run by the media worsened the situation.
8- The victim’s father said that if we take money in exchange for her life, she will be very sad. The deceased’s father said that CBI officials came today and took all the evidence including our statement. We are in favor of the protests and movements taking place in the entire country as well as abroad regarding this incident. We consider everyone as our son and daughter. Regarding the attack on the hospital, he said that this is a matter of administration. The administration will understand it. It is not appropriate for me to comment on this. This is a judicial matter. He said that the CBI has assured that the accused will be given severe punishment. This will be done as soon as possible.
9- The Raj Bhavan of Bengal said that after receiving information about the alleged vandalism and violence at RG Kar Medical College last night, Governor CV Anand Bose visited the campus and interacted with students, teaching, non-teaching staff, vice-principal and principal. The doctors and nurses told the Governor about their plight and the threats they received from the violent mob. They told Governor CV Anand Bose that the police failed to provide security to the medical college students as the uncontrolled mob created a ruckus. There is unhindered entry of outsiders into the campus. Female doctors were threatened with ‘rape’ by the violent mob. The administration has failed to ensure a complete safe system and keep the campus clean from outsiders. Entry and exit to the hospital is uncontrolled and unbridled. It is feared that the areas around the crime scene have been tampered with.
10- The Governor has sought information from the state government about the steps taken to restore law and order in the RG Medical College and to ensure the safety of the doctors, nurses, paramedics, teaching and non-teaching staff there.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)