Kolkata Doctor Rape and Murder Case Highlights: ‘Attempts being made to hide truth by circulating fake news on social media,’ says CM Mamata

Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal on Friday asserted that the force was not trying to shield anyone and it tried to be as transparent as possible in the probe into the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at a state-run hospital here.

Addressing a press conference, Goyal also admitted that despite “sufficient security presence”, the police did not expect the protesting crowd to turn violent outside RG Kar Hospital premises in the early hours of August 15, and were initially caught off-guard when a deputy commissioner-ranked officer got injured.

The CP said that Kolkata Police has handed over all evidence, including videographed post-mortem to the CBI, which is investigating the case upon orders of the Calcutta High Court.

“We are not shielding anyone, and police tried to be as transparent as possible in our probe. We have handed over all evidence related to the case to the CBI. Have faith in the central probe agency,” he said.

-- PTI

'Urging media to be responsible while reporting. Genuine concerns need to be addressed. Fake news needs to be busted,' TMC MP Mahua Moitra, in a post on X, brought up three points.

Here's what they are:-

- Claims of crime scene/ Place of Occurence (PO) being tampered -- 'It's been sealed off and only the police and CBI have access to it,' she stated.

- With regard to claims of construction work at the crime scene, the MP said the health secretary spoke to students who said there was a need for toilets in the hospital immediately. "The work started at a different place of students' choosing. The PO is entirely separate," she added.

- Enquiry committee set up to analyse mental health/ psychiatric condition of the victim: Mahua Moitra 'debunked' this by clarifying that a five-member enquiry committee was set up as per SOP to see if there were any lapses on the part of the hospital.

As nationwide protests over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital garner attention, the Union Director General of Health Services (DGHS) has asked the heads of government hospitals to register an institutional FIR within six hours of any incidence of violence.

“In the event of any violence against any health care worker while on duty, the Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of 6 hours of the incident,” the memorandum read.

READ MORE HERE

A division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam heard a plea seeking restricted access to crime scene, installation of CCTV cameras at the Kolkata’s RG Kar Government Medical College and Hospital, in connection with the vandalism incident that occurred on Wednesday night as people gathered to protest against the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor.

- The court directed the police and the administrator of the hospital to file two separate affidavits narrating the true state of affairs and all connected matters on the next hearing date on August 21.

The investigating team of CBI was also directed by the court to file an interim report about the progress of its investigation into the alleged rape and murder of the woman doctor in the seminar hall of the hospital on August 9, which led to a ceasework by junior doctors in government hospitals in the state

It was in a seminar room on the fourth floor of the emergency building that the 31-year-old doctor’s body was found last week. The CBI on Thursday summoned five doctors as part of its investigation of the case. A CBI team also met the victim’s family and recorded their statements.

According to police, the miscreants who barged into the emergency building did not reach the fourth floor area, and the sanctity of the crime scene is intact.

At the ground floor, the cardiology emergency section, the admissions room, the medical officers’ room, the tele-neuro medicine room, the nurses’ room, and the emergency wards lay ransacked. Sophisticated equipment, including life support systems, were damaged.

The Calcutta High Court mentions all the enclosures in the order and requests parties to file affidavits by Tuesday and matters will be heard next on Wednesday, as per Bar and Bench.

"If you have fear psychosis then let CBI will provide security…let them also see how beautiful your residence is..,," The Calcutta HC was quoted as saying during the hearing after stating that the former principal of R G Kar Hospital Dr Sandip Ghosh will be provided protection by the State. This comes after he resigned amid allegations of "victim shaming".

Earlier, the High Court  had also criticised State's decision to "reward" Dr. Sandip Ghosh with a new post hours after his resignation.

"CBI has power to visit hospital premises and conduct investigation as it deems fit. We direct appropriate police authorities as well as person incharge file reply related to vandalism and all matters connected to it. Let this be served to petitioners counsels…the investigative team by CBI shall also file interim report as progress with regard to matter," a bench of the Calcutta HC was quoted as saying during the hearing by Bar and Bench.

A lawyer informs that the victim’s photo is being circulated on social media, therefore a direction is issued by the Calcutta HC to stop the same, as per Bar and Bench.

The court says, 'Law prohibits…we request the persons who are known to victim not to circulate photographs and name and identity and details of victim.'

"We request press and media also to make sure that identity or photograph of victims are not disclosed in reports," it adds.

"It is informed that the main place of occurrence is intact and not damaged…Counsel informs indeed there was an attempt to damage portion of 4th floor… A special team must be constituted and CBI must be informed," the Calcutta HC observed in its hearing of a plea seeking restricted access to crime scene, installation of CCTV cameras at the Kolkata’s RG Kar Government Medical College and Hospital, in connection with the vandalism incident that occurred on Wednesday night as people gathered to protest against the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor.

"Let’s shift every patient to another hospital…close the hospital everyone will be safe. Close the hospital…best," the HC suggest when informed about the extent of vandalism and that the crime scene is secured

"We don't need compensation why would we take money? We have rejected the compensation and in future too we won't take the compensation. If I accept money for my daughter's death it will hurt her. We need justice," the father of the 31-year-old rape and murder victim who was a trainee doctor at  R G Kar Hospital, told The Indian Express.

On Thursday CBI recorded the statements of the parents and also took a handwritten diary of the victim girl with them. 

- Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar.

- In Kerala : Kerala Medical Postgraduates Association (KMPGA) resident doctors associations of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST),

Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Dental PG association, House Surgeons association among others.

- Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tamil Nadu's Trichy - protesting wearing black badges as a mark of protest.

- DELHI | Junior doctors and medical students at RML Hospital 

Here's what Union Minister Chirag Paswan says: "Such incidents cannot be accepted in any civilized society, no matter which state it is in, under the rule of any government. Strict action should be taken in his matter. I feel sad when such topics are politicized... The way thousands of anti-social elements went to the spot late last night and vandalized it, was it under any conspiracy? Was it to destroy any evidence? Was it to save someone or to implicate someone, these things are a matter of investigation... I am surprised that where there is a woman Chief Minister, such an incident happens and she is silent, all her women MPs are silent... This incident is reprehensible and shameful, what all the doctors there are saying should be heard... This is not just a matter related to one area, it is a matter of women's safety on which every government needs to work sensitively."

The Kolkata Police  so far arrested 19 people in connection with the vandalism and violence at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital where the young doctor was alleged raped and murdered on August 9.

Those arrested were remanded to police custody by a city court till August 22, officials said. The emergency ward, nursing station, medicine store and parts of the outpatient department of the hospital were vandalised by miscreants on Thursday amid midnight protests by women across the state.

TMC MP in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien took to X to elucidate on why Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is leading a rally in the state seeking justice for the rape-murder victim at 4 pm today

- CBI, which is now handling the case, must give daily updates on the investigation

-  The deadline given by the CM to Kolkata Police to complete the investigation was August 17. The same must apply to CBI.

- Kolkata Police has arrested one accused. Justice will happen only when CBI nabs ALL involved and sends case to a fast-track court.

- CBI taking over the case shouldn’t lead to it being quietly buried. The urgent need of the hour is swift justice and the harshest punishment for the culprits.

No one who committed this barbaric act must be spared

"P.S. Those who attacked and ransacked the hospital also need to be booked. The police have arrested 19 people," he added.

Blocked roads, rallies across West Bengal -- this is how the SUCI (Communist) on Friday began its 12-hour general strike to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at a government hospital in the state.

Carrying flags and posters, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) activists criticised the state government over its "failure" to ensure the safety and security of doctors.

The BJP said its women’s wing in West Bengal will hold a candlelight rally to CM Mamata Banerjee’s south Kolkata residence at Kalighat from Hazra today. This is being done for the resignation of the CM over vandalism at the Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Alleging that law and order has “failed” in the state, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said the party will also hold a sit-in demonstration near Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a woman postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered last week, leading to huge protests.

In a post on X with his letter seeking deployment of CAPF to prevent further destruction of evidence, Adikhari wortes: "The WB Govt & Kolkata Police have turned RG Kar Medical College and Hospital into a stinky quagmire by firstly allowing culprits to establish their fiefdom of crime and now allowing TMC goons to stomp upon the whole premises to destroy evidence (whatever was left of it) and scare the protesting Doctors. Such was their perversity that the unruly mob tried to break into the Girls' Hostel at midnight when the Policemen took refuge inside the toilets. I have written to the Hon'ble Home Secretary; Ministry of Home Affairs; Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Hon’ble Director, Central Bureau of Investigation, regarding the vandalism that took place at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and requested them to deploy Central Armed Paramilitary Forces to prevent further destruction of evidence at R G Kar."

The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) called for a 12-hour general strike in West Bengal today. This is in protest demanding the arrest of all those involved in the rape and murder of a young trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. They have also condemned the vandalisation at the premises.

Meanwhile, metro authorities are making all necessary arrangements so that services run normally from 6 am to 6 pm (12 hours) along the Dakshineshwar-New Garia, Joka-Majerhat, Howrah Maidan-Esplanade, Sealdah-Sector Five, New Garia-Ruby More corridors.

"There is no cover-up. Mamata Banerjee is the only lady Chief Minister in India and has always stood for women's causes. To somehow put a political leaning to this and say that all of us are Gungi gudiya (mute dolls) is some kind of political narrative that we had to face before and that we are going to fight back again," TMC MP Mahua Moitra said. Her response comes after Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar said that not a single woman MP from TMC has spoken about the murder and rape of the doctor in Kolkata, adding despite being an alumni of the same medical college, two TMC MPs and three MLAs have been maintaining silence indicating that "something is amiss".

The Resident Doctors' Associations (RDAs) across Delhi will be holding a joint protest march from 2 pm today from the Nirman Bhavan in the National Capital, said RDA in a press release.

"A comprehensive joint meeting was conducted by the representatives of Resident Doctor's Associations, including AIIMS Delhi, SJH, MAMC... After extensive discussions, it was unanimously decided that all RDAs across Delhi will conduct a joint protest march on August 16, 2024, from 2 PM at Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi," per the statement released from Resident Doctor's Associations, AIIMS.

The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) also held an emergency meeting to discuss the rape-murder incident on Thursday and the association has decided to hold a candle march at India Gate at 5 PM on Friday.

Essential services will be maintained and casualty wards operational, the IMA said in a statement.

Out-patient departments (OPD) will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. 

The withdrawal is across all sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing services.

The Indian Medical Association on Thursday night announced a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services from 6 am on August 17 to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and the subsequent vandalism at the facility.

HERE'S THE STATEMENT

After the late-night vandalism at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, police on Thursday arrested 12 people and are looking for dozens of others who were part of the mob.

Late Wednesday night, as doctors gathered to protest against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the institute, hundreds of miscreants had showed up and wreaked havoc at the venue.

Indian Medical Association (IMA) announces nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine for 24 hours. teh suspension will be effective from 6 am on Saturday to 6 am till Sunday.

A resident doctors' federation on Thursday announced to continue its protest here over the alleged rape-murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, a day after medics slammed it for calling off the agitation following the health ministry's "verbal" assurance to meet its demands, including bringing a law to curb attacks on medical personnel.

Resident doctors across major government hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS, VMMC-Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, shut down elective services on Monday morning and went on strike, demanding better security and safety measures for medical personnel, and the central law.

The announcement by the Federation of Resident Doctors' Associations (FORDA) came after Resident Doctors' Associations (RDAs) of many hospitals on Wednesday accused it of taking the decision to end the protest without consulting them and "backstabbing" the medical fraternity. (PTI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused opposition political parties of being behind the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here.

Banerjee said she does not hold the students or doctors responsible for their protests and instead, she accused certain political parties of attempting to incite trouble.

"Police are looking into the matter. I don't have any complaints against the students or the agitating doctors. But there are certain political parties which are trying to foment trouble. If you go through the video, you will get to see what happened," she said. (PTI)

Reacting to the Kolkata police commissioner’s accusations that media 'incited mob', Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in a long post on X targeted the force, saying “policing under Political Subjugation and have made the Police Force servitude to your Political bosses”. “No Mr. @CPKolkata Vineet Goyal, you and your Police Force are not the target of any "malicious media campaign". You have drawn the ire of the People and criticism of the Media because of your own deeds," Adhikari wrote on X. 

Scroll down to read what Kolkata police commissioner said.

As West Bengal police has come under criticism over yesterday's vandalism by miscreants at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata police Commissioner Vineet Goyal on Thursday defended the force. Vineet Goyal, Commissioner, Kolkata Police, said, “We did everything we could but we can’t shoot the people. My DC is injured”.

Goyal also pointed fingers at the media, blaming a “malicious media campaign” for inciting the mob. “What happened here is because of the wrong media campaign, which has been a malicious media campaign … as far as Kolkata police are concerned. What has the Kolkata police not done? It has done everything in this case. In 40 minutes 18 rooms were vandalised. The crime scene, however, remains intact. CCTV cameras were broken,” said Goyal.

“We have tried to satisfy the family but the rumours are being floated that some Mahapatra is connected with some political Mahapatra. He is an intern whose parents come 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, are doctors,” he told reporters.

West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose reached RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and met agitating doctors. After the meeting, Guv Bose said, "We will take very positive action which will be exemplary. We will work together."

People from across West Bengal took to streets yesterday under the banner 'reclaim the night' to urge authorities to make public spaces safer for women. However,  a group of miscreants intervened the protest and attacked doctors.

“A mob of miscreants entered the hospital. The agitating doctors were attacked and had to flee. They even tried to enter the building where the junior doctor was raped andmurdered. Police stood as mute spectators,” alleged Subhendu Mullick, a senior resident doctor at NRS who was among the protesters.

Commenting on rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, CPI National Secretary Annie Raja told PTI, 'This is the tragedy of Indian women, whenever they are raped and murdered brutally, the political blame game takes place. After a few days, everything ends, again it will start when other lady meets the same fate. Nobody is sincere to see that women of this country enjoy equal citizenship or equality and justice. Until and unless all the political parties will take it as a serious political issue, (this can't be addressed). Finally, who are the victims? Who are the sufferers? It is the women and the girls.' 

Responding to the rape and murder case, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate told ANI, "... Why did the local administration try to cover up the crime? The violence we saw yesterday is unacceptable and it is not the answer to anything..." 

"The incident was extremely unfortunate. What happened with the woman doctor has raised a big question. Are women, half the population of the country, safe?... What is happening with women in this country? Why did the local administration try to cover up the crime? The violence we saw yesterday is unacceptable and it is not the answer to anything..." Shrinate said.

Night after unidentified miscreants vandalised parts of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, nurses have taken to protest in the state-run institute. The nurses have demanded proper security on the premises and one of them told PTI, “Such hooliganism inside a hospital is unacceptable.”

Night after miscreants vandalised parts of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, an uneasy clam prevailed at the state-run institute today morning. Wednesday night witnessed miscreants allegedly attacking protesters, including doctors and damaged police vehicles.

Welcome to Doctors Protest Live blog! A 31-year-old postgraduate medical student was found dead in the seminar hall at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital last Friday leading to massive protests by doctors and people across the party lines. Women in large numbers took to protests yesterday night holding candles and shouting slogans. However, some miscreants intervened and damaged properties at the medical college. Follow this space for latest developments in the alleged rape and murder case.