Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was the scene of a violent attack on Wednesday night, as a mob stormed the premises during protest, targeting doctors who were protesting the recent rape and murder of a fellow doctor. The assailants not only assaulted medical staff but also vandalized property and vehicles on the campus.
Anupam Roy, a final-year MBBS student and eyewitness, described the incident as a coordinated effort to disrupt the peaceful demonstration. “We were preparing for a rally with female nurses, doctors, and students when a large mob arrived,” Roy recounted. Despite their attempts to shield the female protesters and requests for additional police support, the authorities were sparse, and the mob proceeded with their destructive agenda.
The violence escalated with the mob damaging the Emergency ward, nursing station, medical store, and parts of the Out Patients Department (OPD). Several CCTV cameras were destroyed during the attack. Roy noted that the police’s response was insufficient, and attempts to contact higher officials were unsuccessful.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee has called for the identification and arrest of those responsible for the violence. In response to the attack, nurses at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital staged a protest on Thursday morning against the vandalism.
The unrest followed the tragic incident where a PG trainee doctor was raped and murdered while on night duty. A civic volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has since taken over the case.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal criticized what he described as a “malicious media campaign,” suggesting it exacerbated the situation. Despite ongoing investigations, the attack on the hospital has intensified calls for justice and heightened tensions within the medical community.