bne IntelliNews – Rape and murder case in a Kolkata hospital triggers international outcry and raises questions

An incident of vandalism and an attack on protesters at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata following a gruesome case of rape and murder has led to the arrest of 25 people in the Indian state of West Bengal. In the incident, which took place on August 14, a mob caused extensive damage to the hospital premises, including to vehicles and public property. The unrest was sparked by the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at the same hospital a week earlier, which had sparked widespread outrage across India. ANI reported.

The case made headlines around the world and sparked an international outcry against the ongoing cases of sexual violence that lead to rapes and even murders of women in India.

According to a report by Economic TimesCloser to India, Pakistan and Nepal have condemned the atrocity and demanded a thorough investigation and punishment of those responsible. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to foment unrest in the state. She claimed that those involved in the vandalism at the hospital had nothing to do with the ongoing student protests at RG Kar Medical College but were external agitators with political motives.

Banerjee praised the police's restraint and pointed out that several officers, including a deputy superintendent of police, were injured during the chaos and had to be hospitalized. The investigation into the rape and murder case has been transferred to India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The CBI team has started collecting evidence, including digital records, and has summoned four doctors from the hospital for questioning.

The prime suspect, Sanjoy Roy, was undergoing a medical examination as part of the ongoing investigation. The incident sparked nationwide protests, with medical students and junior doctors holding demonstrations, including a large protest rally outside Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad. Despite fears that the crime scene may have been compromised by vandalism, Kolkata Police assured the public that the room where the crime occurred was still intact and warned against spreading misinformation.

Tensions were further heightened when West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar accused the Trinamool Congress-led government of failing to maintain law and order, suggesting that the vandalism was a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence related to the case.

The ongoing unrest raises questions about the handling of the investigation and the impact on security and governance in West Bengal.