Kolkata Rape-Murder: 'Reclaim The Night' Protest Turns Ugly, Mob Vandalises RG Kar Hospital

Unidentified miscreants stormed RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata shortly after midnight on Thursday, vandalising parts of the facility where the body of a woman trainee doctor was discovered last week, according to police reports.

The attack occurred around 12:40 am, amidst ongoing protests by junior doctors against the alleged rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9, a case now under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Photo Credit: PTI

The "Reclaim the Night" campaign, which gained significant momentum on social media, spurred protests that began at 11:55 pm, coinciding with Independence Day celebrations.

These demonstrations spread across both small towns and major cities, with key locations in Kolkata witnessing significant turnout.

The vandals, nearly 40 in number and allegedly disguised as protestors, entered the hospital, vandalised property, and hurled stones at police officers, leading the police to deploy teargas to disperse the crowd.

Several policemen were injured during the incident, and a police vehicle, along with several two-wheelers, was damaged.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, who arrived at the scene around 2:00 am, blamed social media posts and rumors for inciting the violence. He stated that an adequate number of personnel had been deployed outside the hospital to manage the situation.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee expressed outrage over the violence, urging the police to ensure that those responsible are identified and brought to justice within 24 hours, regardless of their political affiliations.

"The hooliganism and vandalism at RG Kar tonight have exceeded all acceptable limits," Banerjee stated in a post on X.

He also voiced support for the protesting doctors, emphasising that their demands for safety and security are justified.

BJP leader and leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused TMC of orchestrating the vandalism, claiming that "TMC goons" had infiltrated the apolitical protest rally to incite chaos.

Adhikari alleged that this was part of a cunning plan by Mamata Banerjee, stating, "She thinks that she is the most shrewd person in the whole world and people won't be able to figure out the cunning plan that her goons appearing as protestors would mix with the crowd and carry out vandalism inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital."

The "Reclaim the Night" campaign has seen thousands of women across West Bengal, from diverse backgrounds, take to the streets in protest against the brutal crime.

These protests, which began at 11:55 pm on Wednesday, coincided with Independence Day celebrations and were marked by powerful displays of solidarity in both small towns and large cities, including several prominent spots in Kolkata.

At Biswa Bangla Gate in New Town, approximately 8,000 people participated in a candlelit protest, holding moving posters to create a strong display of light and resolve.

Similar scenes of solidarity and protest were witnessed in multiple locations across the state, including Jadavpur, College Square, New Town, and beyond. Political party flags were banned at the protests, but flags representing marginalized communities, including LGBTQ groups, were prominently displayed.

(With agency inputs)