Chaos erupted early Thursday at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata as vandals targeted the facility following the alleged rape and murder of a female doctor last week. The attack occurred during a night of protests by women across the state, demanding justice for the deceased doctor.
Police reported that around 40 individuals, posing as protesters, breached the hospital grounds under cover of darkness. They vandalized the Emergency ward and Out Patients Department (OPD), damaging medical equipment, destroying CCTV cameras, and overturning a police vehicle. Several police officers were injured, and some nearby vehicles were also damaged.
The vandalism led to the deployment of tear gas by the police to disperse the crowd. Hospital staff have begun repairs and cleanup of the affected areas, including the nursing station and medicine store.
Doctors and nurses at the hospital, who were already protesting for justice, expressed their outrage over the attack. They are demanding increased security measures to ensure safety at the facility. The violence has intensified their resolve to continue their protests until justice is served.
The incident follows the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the crime, and the Calcutta High Court has since ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation.
