Shortly after midnight on Thursday, unidentified miscreants vandalized portions of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where the body of a female trainee doctor was discovered last week, according to police reports. The incident occurred around 12:40 am amid ongoing protests by junior doctors over the August 9 rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor, a case now under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The miscreants, reportedly disguised as protesters, stormed the hospital, damaging property and attacking police officers with brickbats. Several policemen were injured in the chaos. Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, who arrived at the scene around 2 am, attributed the violence to misleading social media posts and rumors. Police had to deploy tear gas to disperse the approximately 40 individuals involved, who also damaged a police vehicle and several two-wheelers.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee condemned the violence, urging police to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable within 24 hours, irrespective of their political affiliations. In a post on X, Banerjee criticized the hooliganism and emphasized that the demands of the protesting doctors are “fair and justified,” calling for their safety to be prioritized.
BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the TMC of orchestrating the vandalism, alleging that party members, disguised as protesters, were sent by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to disrupt the rally at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The incident follows the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the same hospital. Her semi-naked body was found on August 9 in the seminar hall. A civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, has been arrested in connection with the crime. The Calcutta High Court has since transferred the case from Kolkata Police to the CBI.
In response to the murder, thousands of women across West Bengal took to the streets at midnight on Wednesday, protesting under the banner of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign, which gained momentum on social media. The protests began at 11:55 pm, coinciding with Independence Day celebrations, and spread across key locations in small towns and major cities, including prominent landmarks in Kolkata.
During the protests, demonstrators expressed their demands for justice, with chants of “We Want Justice” resonating through the streets. The protests, which saw participation from students, professionals, homemakers, and marginalized communities, were marked by the absence of political party flags, though flags representing marginalized groups, including LGBTQ communities, were prominently displayed.
At New Town’s Biswa Bangla Gate, around 8,000 people gathered with candles and posters, creating a powerful display of solidarity. Similar scenes were witnessed at locations including Jadavpur 8B Bus Stand, College Square, Behala Sakher Bazar, Shyambazar Five Point Crossing, and other areas across West Bengal. Protests also took place in Howrah, where demonstrators disrupted a TMC event, taking over the stage to amplify their call for justice.
These widespread protests underscore the growing public demand for accountability and an end to violence against women in the region.
