Following a violent mob’s attack on vehicles and the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital building in Kolkata, Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal criticised the media, claiming that the incident was a consequence of a ‘wrong and malicious media campaign.’
Addressing the media, Goyal said, “My DCP, who was protecting the boys, is unconscious and what has happened here is because of the wrong, malicious media campaign, which has been going as far as Kolkata police are concerned. What has the Kolkata Police not done?”
This took place after a mob entered the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital campus, causing damage to the protest site and public property, which led security personnel to disperse the crowd. Goyal also mentioned that the Kolkata police have taken all necessary actions under his direction and have arrested the primary suspect in the case.
“In this case, they have done everything and I am saying, everything under my command. My men have worked day and night to collect evidence. They have collected the best evidence. The main accused have been arrested,” he said.
He expressed intense frustration over the rumours circulating about the issue and added that the malicious media campaign has eroded public trust in the Kolkata Police.
“We have tried to satisfy the family but the rumours are being floated that some Mahapatra is being connected with a political Mahapatra. He is an intern who comes from a small place. His father is a primary school teacher and doesn’t have any kind of background. People are spreading these rumours and some of them are his friends, these doctors. Pathetic, I am extremely angry. We have not done anything wrong. Because of this malicious media campaign, people have lost trust in Kolkata Police. We never said there is only one person; we are waiting for evidence as we don’t have anything to support,” he said.
Goyal also noted that it goes against his principles to arrest individuals based on rumours and emphasised that they have not attempted to protect anyone involved in the case.
“I can’t just some kind of rumour can’t arrest an intern; it’s against my conscience. As far as I am concerned, my team is concerned we have done what is right. Now the case is already gone. CBI will be investigating it. We have been transparent with everyone. We wanted the students to form a seven-member committee on Sunday to share everything with them but they haven’t come up with the committee till today. It’s the most unfortunate thing–the motivated media campaign that was being run has portrayed the Kolkata Police in a very bad light. We are always with the people of Kolkata, but unfortunately, this kind of incident wouldn’t have happened if this kind of malicious campaign wasn’t run by the media. We have not tried to save anyone,” he said.
The mob also damaged a vehicle belonging to the Kolkata Police.
In a statement to ANI, the driver of the vandalised car, Badyu Jamaan, said “The crowd came suddenly and damaged the car. A brick hit me on my back when I was standing by the side of my car.”
Meanwhile, addressing the media about the rape-murder incident, CPI (M) General Secretary D Raja said, “What happened in Kolkata was a heinous crime and such crimes should not take place anywhere in the country. We are celebrating 78 years of Independence. What is the meaning of independence if we cannot provide security and protection to our own women and children? If this happens to a lady doctor in a city like Kolkata, think of the condition of our working women in the agricultural field in tribal areas. What is happening? This is a very serious issue. What the Bengal government has done so far is not satisfactory. The union government should take note and provide adequate security to our women and children.”
On August 9, a post-graduate trainee doctor was discovered dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The victim’s family claims she was raped and murdered, prompting widespread protests by doctors and medical communities across the country.