While referring to the vandalism incident at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital on Wednesday night (14th August), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed opposition parties – Vam (Left/CPIM) and Ram (reference for BJP) for creating unrest in the state. CM Banerjee who also holds the portfolio of Home Minister, and Health Minister, has been facing massive criticism over failure in maintaining Law and order, especially after a large mob laid siege at R G Kar Hospital. Apart from vandalism, the violent mob also attacked protesting doctors who have been demanding Justice for the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor.
Deflecting criticism over the late-night vandalism incident, Mamata Banerjee went on to blame the left and BJP and said, “Left and Ram want to create unrest in Bengal and they both have come together to do this.” However, the major arrests in the hospital vandalism incident point otherwise.
As per the last update by Kolkata Police, they have arrested around 30 people in relation to the vandalism incident at RG Kar Hospital, and reportedly some of them are linked with the ruling state party, Trinamool Congress. Facing criticism over the violence, Kolkata Police have also released 76 photos of people allegedly involved in the vandalism incident.
According to an Indian Express report, the accused — identified or arrested in the vandalism incident — include a few Trinamool Congress workers, a couple of women, and several men who are in their teens or 20s.
OpIndia earlier reported that one of the arrested accused was identified as Soumik Das, a TMC worker as per his family members. He is a close confidante of Trinamool Congress councillor Sukanta Sen Sharma and a gym trainer by occupation. Before his arrest, he said that he got carried away and attacked the healthcare facility without any provocation. In the photo and video released by Kolkata Police on their social media handle, he was seen using a baton and vandalising parts of the emergency building.
Speaking to The Indian Express, his aunt, who did not wish to be identified, admitted that he is a TMC worker. She said, “Ask the party whether he worked for them or not. Ask anyone here – they will tell you that he was a party (TMC) worker. He was not alone; other youths also went with him.”
Locals said that Das is known to Sukanta Sen Sharma, a local TMC leader and councillor of ward number 14. However, TMC leader Sukanta claimed that he didn’t know Soumik Das and dismissed that he was a TMC worker.
Sukanta said, “I don’t know him. I don’t think he belongs to our party. Everyone is a TMC supporter or worker these days; some are friends, some are enemies.”
Furthermore, another arrested accused has been identified as Jabbar Ansari (40), a TMC worker, as per his family members. In the photo released by the Kolkata Police, Ansari is seen instructing the mob inside the emergency building of RG Kar Hospital as the vandalism was underway. He has not been arrested so far. His family members also claimed that they didn’t know where he was as he had not returned home since that night.
His sister, Bacchiya Apa, said, “We do not know where he is, but the police are calling every day. I do not know what he has done. But it is not right to disturb us. My brothers are known TMC workers in the area, respected people.”
Jabbar Ansari’s elder daughter (aged 20), said, “I have seen the picture. He is a respected man. He must have been asking them (the miscreants) to leave the hospital.”
The third accused in the RG Kar vandalism incident is Rishi Kant Mishra (35) who was arrested by the Police on Friday night. He is also reportedly linked with the Trinamool Congress.
His brother Lakshman Mishra said, “They said he pelted stones. We don’t know. I went to the police station and they told me he had been arrested.”
Mishra’s elder brother Srikant is a building materials supplier and a TMC worker. According to neighbours, the two are often seen at party events. Locals said that Mishra works in a godown.
Meanwhile, Indian Express reported that it has spoken to the families of 15 people — 14 who have been arrested and one who is allegedly absconding. According to the report, most of the accused come from nearby areas. Family members of most of these accused have claimed that their relative was innocent who had gone near the RG Kar Hospital to see what the commotion was. They have alleged that the Police should have arrested the culprits who carried out vandalism at the RG Kar Hospital, rather than arresting passersby.
Krishna Ghosh is the mother of one of the arrested accused, Paul Ghosh (27). His mother said, “On Friday afternoon, the police came and informed us that he had been arrested. The police should arrest vandals, not bystanders.”
Additionally, family members of a few accused told The Indian Express that they went to the local TMC councillors but they refused to help them.
Family members of some of the accused said that their relative was there only to see the commotion.
19-year-old Md Azlan Ul Haq’s family claimed that he went there to check what the commotion was about. His mother, Sahina Haq said, “At night, there were rallies and some commotion. My son went to see what was happening. In the morning, he didn’t return. We finally learnt from the court that he has been arrested. He is not that kind of a boy. His career will be ruined.”
19-year-old Tanvir Alam used to be a driver but is currently unemployed. Like most of the accused, he also lives in the vicinity of the hospital.
His uncle Mukhtar Ali said, “Like all boys in the neighbourhood, he went to RG Kar on hearing about the commotion. The next day we saw a photo released by the Kolkata police of him standing inside the emergency department. We went to the police station to see him but were not allowed.”
‘Absolute failure of state machinery, we will close down the hospital’: Calcutta HC Mob had lambasted Police over the vandalism incident at RG Kar Hospital
On Wednesday (14th August) night, a large violent mob carried out vandalism at RG Kar Hospital and attacked protesting doctors who have been demanding Justice for the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor. Later, on Friday, the Calcutta High Court again came down heavily on the West Bengal government over the RG Kar Medical College Hospital rape and murder incident and transferred the case of vandalism in the hospital to the CBI. The court had already handed over the probe into the rape and murder of the trainee doctor to the central probe agency.
The state claimed that police tried to stop the mob, but they were outnumbered by around 7000 strong mob and could not prevent the attack, adding that several cops were injured. The court responded by saying how police will protect the doctors and others if they can’t protect even themselves.
Unsatisfied with the replies of the state, the court even threatened to close down the hospital and shift the patients to a different hospital and remarked that the incident was an absolute failure of the state machinery.
