The Calcutta High Court has condemned the mob violence at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal as a complete failure of the state machinery. The court, led by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, expressed astonishment at the lack of police intelligence regarding the gathering of 7,000 people at the hospital early Thursday morning. This was despite the state’s lawyer claiming the presence of police forces at the scene.
“This is an absolute failure of state machinery. There was a police force present (at the spot). They couldn’t protect their own men? Sorry state of affairs. How will these doctors work fearlessly?” the Chief Justice questioned, criticizing the West Bengal government. He further emphasized the need for stricter security measures, stating, “You pass section 144 of the CrPC orders for any reason. When so much commotion is going on, you should have cordoned the area. 7,000 people can’t come walking.”
The court has instructed both the police and the hospital administration to submit separate affidavits detailing the events leading to the vandalism. The police have been asked to document the incident, while the CBI’s investigative team has been ordered to provide an interim report on their progress in the case related to the alleged rape and murder of the woman doctor on August 9th. This incident sparked a cease work by junior doctors in state government hospitals.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has blamed opposition parties for orchestrating the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital. She asserted that while she supports student and doctor protests, certain political parties are attempting to exploit the situation for their own gain. Banerjee specifically accused the Left and the BJP of inciting the violence. She claimed that around midnight, approximately 40 individuals posing as protesters entered the hospital, vandalizing the emergency department, nursing station, medicine store, and damaging CCTV cameras. They also ransacked a stage where junior doctors had been protesting since August 9th demanding workplace security.
The probe into the death of the trainee doctor was transferred from the Kolkata Police to the CBI following the Calcutta High Court’s order. A civic volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime.
