Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has issued a stern directive to the Bengal government, demanding photographic evidence that the crime scene at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, where a doctor’s mutilated body was discovered, remains intact. This demand comes after the victim’s parents claimed that the seminar room, the site of the grisly crime, was demolished by vandals during protests late Wednesday and early Thursday.
Expressing severe dissatisfaction, the court condemned the incident as an “absolute failure of state machinery.” It warned the state that it would consider ordering the closure of the hospital if the police were unable to ensure the safety of the facility and its medical staff.
The High Court has also instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit an interim report on the “pre-planned” vandalism. The court had previously directed the CBI to investigate the doctor’s murder, emphasizing the urgency of the matter amidst the parents’ allegations of severe negligence by the hospital administration and police.
The vandalism occurred during nationwide protests sparked by the brutal murder and possible rape of the doctor on August 9. The protests escalated into violent clashes during the ‘Reclaim The Night’ movement, leading to parts of the hospital being ransacked by an angry mob.
In response to the court’s inquiries, state representatives explained that the mob, which had swelled to around 7,000 people, broke through barricades, prompting police to fire tear gas. Fifteen police personnel, including a Deputy Commissioner, were injured, and emergency rooms were damaged. However, the state insisted that the crime scene was protected.
The court, however, was not convinced by these explanations, questioning the intelligence and preventive measures of the police. Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam criticized the police’s failure to anticipate and manage the situation, especially given the sensitive nature of the protests.
The parents’ counsel, senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, further argued that the crime scene was only spared due to a misunderstanding by the vandals, who mistakenly attacked the wrong floor. The court also questioned ongoing demolition and renovation work near the crime scene, expressing skepticism about its timing and necessity.
Despite repeated assurances from the state that the crime scene was secure, the court remained firm in its demand for photographic proof. The High Court ordered the police to provide detailed information about the protest, including a timeline of events, to the CBI. The federal agency has been directed to proceed with the investigation as it sees fit, with an emphasis on ensuring the protection of doctors.
