On Tuesday (20th August), the Supreme Court of India expressed concerns about the safety of doctors, especially female doctors of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. During today’s hearing, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stressed that the mob that carried out vandalism at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital also called out women doctors by name. They threatened the people leading the protests with the same fate that had befallen the deceased victim, alluding to the rape threats to women doctors.
The court made these remarks while reading complaints of women doctors who were threatened with rape in response to the submissions of Advocate Aparajita Singh who appeared for women doctors of the hospital.
She told the court, “When the mob came inside there were people who came inside the ladies’ hostel and threatened with such words that cannot be said here. State police ran away from the scene. The parents are not sending the lady doctors as they are not feeling safe. Doctors have also stated that police were inside the female changing room. Please see the sealed envelope to see the doctors’ position there.”
Adv: I appear for the women doctors of the hospital. When mob came inside there were people who came inside ladies hostel and threatened with such words that cannot be said here. state police ran away from the scene. the parents are not sending the lady doctors as they are not…
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) August 20, 2024
Counsel: the same day when the goons entered the protest site, they went to the women's hostel and threatened the lady resident doctors. They were threatened with a kind of threat that is given to a woman everytime they protest. They were threatened with very harsh consequences…
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) August 20, 2024
The court also took notice of the document she placed on record which was an email by a senior resident detailing the incident which took place on the night of 14th August when a large mob carried out vandalism at RG Kar Hospital.
In response to the rape threats to women doctors, CJI said, “This is a very serious issue Mr. Sibal …Women doctors are assaulted, the police run away from the scene. Thereafter women doctors are called out by name, the people leading the protests, and they are threatened with the same fate that has befallen the other (deceased victim) … What was the police force doing in anticipation?”
#BREAKING RG KAR CASE: SC READS COMPLAINT BY WOMEN DOCTORS WHO WERE THREATENED OF RAPE
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) August 20, 2024
CJI: This is a very serious issue mr sibal..
37 were arrested.. and they were recognized from the cctv footage. WEST BENGAL GOVERNMENT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN UNAWARE THAT THERE WILL BE ELEMENTS… pic.twitter.com/f2AiAcDdcp
The court was also apprised of the fact that a large number of women doctors of the Hospital fled from there fearing for their safety. The counsel told the court that only 30-40 women resident doctors had remained at the Hospital.
Adv: there are 700 residents, 250 are ladies in total and now only 100 are remaining in all. 30 to 40 female residents and 60 male residents remain and rest all have fled. #RGKarMedicalCollegeHospital
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) August 20, 2024
After taking note of the same, the Supreme Court ordered that the CISF will provide security to the RG Kar Hospital.
ORDER PRONOUNCEMENT RESUMES
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) August 20, 2024
CJI: in the night of august 15 when acts of vandalism took place in RG Kar Hospital, a mob attacked male and female doctors. Ms Aparajita Singh appearing for the organisation of doctors from west bengal (protect the warriors) has placed on record an…
Eyewitness Nursing staff recalls the 14th August incident and threatening remarks of the attacking mob
It is pertinent to note that as the matter of rape threats was raked today during the Supreme Court hearing on this matter, an eye witness earlier recalled that the attacking mob had threatened them saying, “Jaise Rape Hua, Aap Logon Ko Bhi Karenge.” (You will be raped just like the one that took place recently).
Notably, while speaking with Burkha Dutt’s online portal, Mojo Story, a Nursing staff recalled the incident of 14th August.
She stated that they were staging a protest and raising slogans as a large number of women had gathered in the streets during the ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest. She added that the Police were less in number and they were stationed at the gates. They tried to stop the mob as a lot of girls were inside. They included lady doctors, nursing staff and young students. However, the mob broke the barricades and entered inside. They vandalised chairs and tables while one group went to the Emergency department.
She recalled, “We felt as if the same fate that happened to the victim, for whom we came here to stage a protest, would happen to us. And tomorrow someone else will protest for us. There was no safety and security,” adding that the mob chased them inside the hospital while vandalising the hospital.
Responding to the query of threats, she added, “They threatened on-duty doctors saying, ‘Jaise Rape Hua hai, aap logo ko bhi karenge’.
"Jaise Rape Hua, Aap Logon Ko Bhi Karenge"-The Mob that attacked the protesting doctors threatened rape. A shocking account from the Nursing Staff at #RGKarCollege where the #Kolkata rape & murder took place, to our reporter on the ground Navamita Chandra. pic.twitter.com/AOx3f1URc8
— Mojo Story (@themojostory) August 15, 2024
"Jaise rape hua, aap logon ko bhi karenge"
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) August 16, 2024
On-duty Doctors, nurses and young interns were given threats by the violent mob, as they ransacked the #RGKarCollege hospital.
Listen to the protestors who were demanding #justiceformoumitadebnath 💔 pic.twitter.com/Qjt0ztaSel
She further stated that the police force was standing aside, we insisted and pushed them a lot to go in front but when the mob entered inside, the Police ran away and went to the nursing staff seeking shelter, and hid in the toilets. We also went to the RAF (Rapid Action Force) to take action, but they declined saying they have not received any order. This went on for 30-40 minutes, and it only cleared after RAF started taking action and did a lathi charge.
