21 august 2024 : Three senior officers of the Kolkata Police, including two assistant commissioners, have been suspended following incidents of vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last week.
This unrest occurred in the wake of the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor within the seminar hall of the state-operated facility, where a mob forcefully entered and damaged the emergency department, nursing station, and medicine store.
The violence erupted during midnight protests by women in Kolkata.
An official confirmed, “Three officers have been suspended… Two are assistant police commissioners and one is an inspector.”
The Kolkata Police faced significant backlash from both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court, which criticized the force for its inability to manage the mob effectively.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court raised several concerns regarding the police’s actions, including delays in filing the first information report, the tardiness in returning the victim’s body to her family, and the failure to ensure the safety of women and medical staff during the mob incident.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, leading the bench, emphasized that denying women the right to work safely equates to a violation of their right to equality.
The court also highlighted that Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, attempted to misrepresent the murder as a suicide.
Furthermore, the bench questioned how the police permitted individuals to enter the hospital, which was an active crime scene.
It was noted that the victim’s body was released to her family at 8:30 AM for the funeral, while the murder FIR was filed at 11:45 PM.
The trainee doctor was assaulted and killed in the seminar hall while attempting to rest during her 36-hour shift. The post-mortem report indicated she sustained 16 external and nine internal injuries, confirming the occurrence of sexual assault.
In response to the rape and murder, doctors nationwide have been protesting. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court urged them to cease their demonstrations, promising to address their concerns.
