Kolkata was thrust into turmoil late Thursday night as protests over brutal rape and murder of 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College spiraled into violence. What began as a peaceful demonstration morphed into an all-out assault on the hospital. A group of nearly 40 unidentified miscreants infiltrated premises vandalizing property and clashing with police. The mob, masquerading as protestors, wreaked havoc. This led police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several police officers were injured. Vehicles were damaged as the situation rapidly escalated out of control.
The protest, fueled by the ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement—a campaign that has swept across social media—was initially a call for justice for slain doctors. However, a sudden and violent turn of events left the hospital in shambles and city reeling.
Alarming Evidence: Gang-Rape Suspected
As violence took shape case took darker turn with revelations in Calcutta High Court that victim may have been gang-raped. Parents in a chilling petition revealed that a postmortem report found 150 mg of semen in the doctor’s body. This strongly suggests involvement of multiple attackers. The report confirmed that the cause of death was strangulation. Additional findings included severe trauma injuries to head ears, lips and bite marks on neck. This paints a horrifying picture of assault.
Parents have accused authorities of cover-up. They allege that the autopsy was rushed and mishandled to protect those involved. They claim crime could not have been committed by one person alone. They are calling for immediate arrest of all culprits. This includes those responsible for daughter’s safety at hospital
Police Under Siege: Public Trust Erodes
Kolkata Police already under scrutiny for handling of rape-murder case, now face barrage of criticism over response to violence. Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal in defiant statement, blamed “malicious media campaign” for eroding public trust in police force. “This city is a loser, not Vineet Goyal,” he remarked. He expressed frustration over mounting pressure on his department.
Despite the case being transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by Calcutta High Court Goyal insisted that Kolkata Police have done everything in their power to bring justice. He confirmed that police are fully cooperating with CBI’s investigation
Political Blame Game: TMC vs. BJP
The incident has ignited political firestorm with West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) locked in fierce war of words. TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee condemned vandalism. He demanded swift action against those responsible. “Hooliganism and vandalism at RG Kar tonight have crossed all lines. Safety and security of protesting doctors must be prioritized,” Banerjee declared. He pressed Kolkata Police to bring culprits to justice within 24 hours.
Meanwhile BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused TMC of orchestrating violence. This aimed to destroy crucial evidence related to rape-murder. “This was a deliberate act by TMC goons. They were given free rein by police to cover up the truth,” Adhikari alleged. He pointed to the failure of police to prevent a mob from entering the hospital.
CBI Steps In: High Court Slams State Authorities
The Calcutta High Court’s decision to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a significant blow to the state’s handling of investigation. Court criticized the hospital’s former principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh and the state government for apparent negligence. Court questioned why no police complaint was filed immediately after the doctor’s body was discovered. It condemned the state’s decision to reassign Dr. Ghosh to another medical college just hours after his resignation.
CBI has now taken charge. Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer arrested earlier by state police, is placed in the agency’s custody. CBI’s team includes medical and forensic experts. It has been split into three groups. One group to inspect the crime scene. Another to manage court proceedings. A third to liaise with Kolkata Police.
Nationwide Outrage: Kolkata’s Crisis Deepens
The anger over the Kolkata incident has sparked protests across the nation. ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement which began in Kolkata quickly spread to major cities including Delhi Mumbai and Hyderabad. Thousands of women have taken to streets demanding justice for slain doctor. They call for stronger protections for women across India. Demonstrations, initially peaceful, have seen sporadic outbreaks of violence. This raises concerns about further unrest.
