The Calcutta High Court sharply criticized the West Bengal government for its handling of a violent incident at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident occurred on the night of August 14, during a midnight protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor.The court took up the matter after receiving multiple emails about the vandalism at the hospital . Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court condemned the failure of the state machinery, questioning the ability of the police to maintain order.
“This is an absolute failure of state machinery. There was a police force present at the spot, yet they couldn’t protect their own men? This is a sorry state of affairs. How will these doctors work fearlessly?” he said.The Chief Justice further criticized the state’s decision-making, pointing out that Section 144 of the CrPC should have been enforced to control the situation. “You pass Section 144 orders for any reason. When so much commotion is going on, you should have cordoned the area,” he remarked, emphasizing that “7,000 people can’t come walking.”
According to the Kolkata Police, nearly 40 individuals, pretending to be protestors, infiltrated the hospital premises, vandalizing property and attacking police personnel. The miscreants, armed with sticks, bricks, and rods, caused extensive damage to the Emergency Ward, its nursing station, and the medicine store, as well as a section of the Outpatient Department (OPD). Several CCTV cameras around the area were also destroyed, a police vehicle was overturned, and several two-wheelers were damaged. Some police personnel sustained injuries during the incident.In response to the violence, police resorted to tear gas to disperse the crowd. The Calcutta High Court has since ordered the transfer of the investigation into the trainee doctor’s death from the Kolkata Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).