Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: The West Bengal Police have come under fire on social media after being accused of “playing the victim card” following their post about a female constable injured during the recent chaos at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The incident occurred on August 14 during protests against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor.
A violent mob stormed the hospital, causing significant damage to the protest site, vehicles, and other public property. The police had to resort to teargas and lathicharge to disperse the unruly crowd, resulting in injuries to several individuals.
On Friday, the West Bengal Police took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share the story of Constable Shampa Pramanik, who was injured when “several bricks suddenly flew from the crowd towards the police, one of which hit Shampa in the face.” The post featured a photograph of Pramanik with a blood-soaked face and posed the question, “Wasn’t the night Shampa’s too? It was meant to be a night for women, reclaiming the streets to demand workplace safety, in memory of a young woman who suffered a horrifying tragedy at her own workplace.”
However, this post quickly drew criticism from social media users, who accused the police of shifting focus away from their responsibility to protect both the protesters and their own officers. One user expressed support for Pramanik’s recovery but questioned why the police would “resort to playing the victim,” emphasizing that the police failed in their duty to safeguard everyone involved.
Another user harshly criticized the West Bengal Police, highlighting a lack of preparedness and accusing the force of incompetence. “Yes, it should have been Shampa’s night too… but sadly she was part of the incompetent WB Police,” the user remarked, pointing out the absence of basic riot gear and proper intelligence about the mob’s size.
In response to the incident, the West Bengal Police stated that they have arrested 25 people connected to the attack and are committed to ensuring that those responsible face punishment. Despite these assurances, the criticism on social media continues to mount, raising questions about the police’s handling of both the protest and their communication strategy.
