Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: Tensions escalated at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Thursday as a group of nurses staged a protest in response to a violent incident that occurred at the state-run facility. The protest was sparked by an attack on the hospital by a mob, which vandalized parts of the building where a trainee doctor had been found dead just a week earlier.
Witnesses described the scene in the hospital’s emergency ward as chaotic, with medical equipment and furniture scattered and damaged, giving the area the appearance of a war zone.
The Kolkata Police have confirmed that despite the vandalism, the crime scene linked to the brutal rape and murder of the 31-year-old doctor remains undisturbed. So far, nine arrests have been made as the investigation into the incident continues.
According to police reports, a group of approximately 40 to 50 individuals stormed the hospital late on Wednesday night under the guise of protesters. Their actions resulted in significant damage to hospital property, forcing the police to deploy tear gas and resort to a lathi-charge to disperse the mob.
The attack on the hospital took place against the backdrop of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign, a protest movement in which a group of women marched through the city to demand justice for the murdered doctor, culminating in their arrival at the hospital.
In an update, police officials confirmed the arrests related to the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital and mentioned that they are carefully reviewing CCTV footage from the night of the incident to identify further suspects.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly condemned the attack, attributing the violence to negligence on the part of the authorities. The IMA suggested that the mob specifically targeted young medical students who were protesting the doctor’s murder.
In a statement on the social media platform X, the Kolkata Police reiterated that the integrity of the crime scene had been maintained and issued a warning against spreading false information. “The crime scene has not been touched. We will initiate legal action for spreading rumours,” the police stated.
The situation at RG Kar Medical College remains tense as authorities continue their investigation into both the murder and the subsequent vandalism, with the medical community and the public demanding swift justice.
