In the early hours of Thursday, unidentified miscreants stormed the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, wreaking havoc on the state-run facility where the body of a woman trainee doctor was discovered last week. The incident occurred at approximately 12:40 a.m., amidst ongoing protests by junior doctors following the alleged rape and murder of the post-graduate trainee doctor, a case now under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The attack on the hospital came on the heels of growing unrest fueled by the “Reclaim the Night” campaign, a movement that has gained traction on social media in response to violence against women. The campaign, which began at 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday to coincide with Independence Day celebrations, saw widespread participation across India, with protests erupting in small towns and major cities alike, including several key locations in Kolkata.
According to police reports, a group of nearly 40 individuals, allegedly disguised as protestors, forced their way into the hospital. Once inside, they began vandalizing property, damaging medical equipment, and pelting stones at the police personnel stationed there. The situation quickly escalated, prompting the police to deploy tear gas in an attempt to disperse the violent mob.
Several police officers were injured during the altercation, suffering wounds from brickbats thrown by the attackers. Among those injured were officers from the Kolkata Police, who were present at the scene to manage the protests. A police vehicle and several two-wheelers were also damaged in the chaos.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, who arrived at the scene around 2 a.m., directly attributed the violence to rumors and inflammatory posts circulating on social media. He emphasized the role of misinformation in inciting the mob, calling for greater scrutiny and regulation of online content that could potentially provoke such incidents.
The protests at RG Kar Medical College are part of a larger wave of demonstrations that have swept across Kolkata and other parts of the country in recent days. The junior doctors, supported by various student unions and activist groups, have been demanding swift justice for the slain trainee doctor. The involvement of the CBI in the investigation has brought a renewed sense of urgency to the case, but it has also intensified the anger and frustration among the medical community and the general public.
As the situation remains tense, security has been heightened across key locations in Kolkata, particularly around medical institutions. Authorities are closely monitoring social media platforms to prevent further escalation, while also appealing to the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.
The RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, one of Kolkata’s oldest and most prominent medical institutions, has been at the center of these protests, with junior doctors staging sit-ins and rallies since the discovery of their colleague’s body. The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of healthcare professionals and the urgent need for better protection and security measures within medical facilities.
As the investigation continues, the state government and law enforcement agencies are under increasing pressure to restore order and ensure justice for the victim. The events of Thursday morning have added a new layer of complexity to an already sensitive situation, with the potential for further unrest in the days ahead.
In the wake of this violence, hospital authorities have appealed for calm, urging both staff and the public to refrain from actions that could exacerbate the situation. The medical community, while united in grief and anger, is now faced with the dual challenge of seeking justice for their colleague while also maintaining their commitment to patient care under increasingly difficult circumstances.
For now, the focus remains on maintaining peace and ensuring that those responsible for the vandalism are brought to justice, as the city of Kolkata grapples with the fallout from this tragic and unsettling incident.
