A solidarity protest was violently disrupted at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital last night. The junior doctors suspect TMC-aligned goons unleashed chaos by storming the peaceful protest. The demonstration was meant to demand justice for the Nirbhaya-style rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate doctor, Moumita Debnath.
Instead, the allegedly hired goons turned the protest into a war zone. These goons attacked the epicenter of the protest in the name of ‘Justice’. And they attacked the emergency room of RG Kar Hospital. Thereby, exposing the alarming trend of weaponized political violence in CM Mamata’s West Bengal. The young Doctors, once the guardians of health, are now finding themselves victims of a brutal, politically motivated attack. Let’s explore!
RG Kar Hospital: Vandalism Maligns The Heart of Protest
The mob vandalised the emergency ward of RG Kar hospital and also some police vehicles parked outside. Police had to lathicharge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.@RittickMondal's report – https://t.co/Cm1QjxWG2U#KolkataDoctorDeath #ReclaimTheNight #Protests pic.twitter.com/mqB76xdg1F
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) August 15, 2024
At the stroke of midnight, Kolkata’s junior doctors were to show solidarity with the victim, Moumita Debnath. However, their entire agenda was hijacked by suspected political goons. In the dead of night, a gang of men gathered outside the gates of RG Kar Hospital while the police watched in silence. Soon, their number surged and they stormed the protest site, tearing through hospital property.
The mob didn’t stop at attacking the protest’s main stage but also caused extensive damage to the emergency ward.
Furniture, life-saving medicines, and medical equipment were trashed as these alleged TMC goons rampaged through the hospital. Eyewitnesses reported how the chaos unfolded, with doctors and hospital staff forced to seek shelter as the situation spiraled out of control. Some reports talk of how the attackers even tried scaling the walls of hostels housing undergraduate medical students, leaving them terrified.
RG Kar Hospital: A Case of Political Intimidation?
The doctors’ protest centered around the horrific crime against the doctor, which had been initially framed as a suicide by the authorities. Only after intense public pressure was the charge changed to that of rape and murder. The post-mortem reports talk of multiple wounds and gang rape of the PG student doctor. Her only crime was to be on duty to save lives.
The deep distrust due to the obvious cover-up led to public outrage and shaming.
Hence, the West Bengal Police was forced to hand over the case to the CBI. However, fearing being exposed, the TMC has begun its political posturing. Firstly, earlier in the day, the TMC promised to release its wrath via a protest against the BJP. Their illogical demand is that the CBI should solve the case by Sunday!
SOS EMERGENCY
Avg 100-200 Goons of MOB are attacking in #RGKAR MEDICAL COLLEGESeveral Doctors have trapped .
Worrisome condition in #kolkata#JusticeForMoumitapic.twitter.com/z7EbfIQj5Y
— Nirmo💙Roy²⁶ (@RoyNirmo) August 15, 2024
Another political intimation is suspected in the way the junior doctor’s protest to show solidarity with the victim was hijacked by goons. Thereby, allowing the authorities to suspect any doctor who has raised their voices against the TMC’s high-handedness in this case.
The promotion and transfer of the Principal of the RG Kar Hospital’s Medical College is another pointer to a cover-up at play. The attempt to mislead the public about the reality of the brutality is another nail in the coffin of political suppression. Therefore, it is obvious that there is a political angle to the case, where the suspects may be connected to TMC. Hence, the TMC’s tactics are designed to deflect suspicion, frame innocents, and shield the culprits.
Doctors Attacked For Fighting for Justice?
Where is our police intelligence? Complete failure of police. RG Kar is surrounded by slums and hooligans. If we all know this, police asking people to identify, a tragic humor.
— Debasis Senguptaa BE,MBA,MSc. ACC P3O. PMP (@debasis1960) August 15, 2024
Amid this political storm, the doctors themselves are being dragged into the crossfire. Despite their noble intent of seeking justice for their colleague, they are being maligned by political figures and the police. Some media reports portrayed them as the agitators causing public inconvenience. However, the junior doctors have remained steadfast, refusing to back down until the real culprits are brought to justice.
CM Mamta’s appeals are unable to end these junior doctor’s strikes.
Just in less than 10 mins of us coming back home, they started planned attack in 3 places, with the main focus on RG Kar. The shameless Kolkata Police was a mute spectator watching all these. Fckass rotten system! 🤬 pic.twitter.com/KAOk82SSzL
— MainPopBoy🐰 (Rest) (@PopKingJK97) August 15, 2024
These doctors demand justice and the safety of medical professionals, which should take equal precedence as the medical requirements of patients. Hence, the way the goons were allowed to storm the gates under the WB Police’s watch further questions the political nature of the attack.
The TMC has consistently downplayed the protests while attempting to portray themselves as champions of justice by demanding a quick CBI resolution – despite their earlier attempts to quash the investigation. Their sudden protest planned for August 17 against the BJP reeks of a calculated political move to distract from their own complicity, which has done little to calm tensions. In fact, it only deepened the doctors’ resolve as they now see themselves as defenders of both justice and their own safety against a state apparatus that seems to be siding with their attackers.
Big Breaking 🚨
Mamta Banerjee orders:
"On 17th Aug,there will be protest march in all the blocks for the punishment of the criminal.On 18th Aug, there will be a demonstration in all the blocks
On 19th Aug,on the day of Raksha Bandhan, a program to demand capital punishment” pic.twitter.com/RzQxrdjYe6
— Manish Aman (@manish__aman) August 14, 2024
And all this while the some prominent voices of feminism and justice choose to go ‘offline’! Or chose to remind the world of Hathras and Manipur, where a BJP CM was asked to resign! Ofcourse, Samajwadi Party leaders’ attack on minor girls is ignored.
And I’m off social media for the next 2 days. At the stroke of the midnight hour today our journey began as an independent nation. Let’s continue to fight for our constitutional values. Jai Hind
— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) August 14, 2024
Political Violence: The New Normal in West Bengal?
West Bengal is no stranger to political violence or doctor’s protests. However, this gang rape-cum-murder of a doctor on duty and the attacks on protesting doctors marks a dangerous escalation. The use of violent mobs to quell dissent, especially against medical professionals, signals a troubling trend where politics takes precedence over justice and public safety.
With the TMC now organizing counter-protests, it’s clear that political calculations are driving the narrative.
West Bengal will need to tighten its belt for Violent Mobs under the guise of TMC’s protest. These TMC protests will leave the doctors and the victim’s parents to fend for themselves. West Bengal’s political landscape is becoming increasingly toxic! And the recent attack shows that dissenters, especially those critical of the establishment, are fair game for intimidation.
The tragic death of Moumita Debanth, a young doctor, has unmasked the deep rot of West Bengal. The innocent outcry for justice is smothered by hired goons. Thereby, unveiling the ugly face of political violence in West Bengal. Doctors seeking justice are being attacked and maligned, while the state’s political establishment plays both sides. TMC is gearing up for their protest against the BJP anc CBI. However, it becomes increasingly clear that the real battle is not about justice for the doctor. It is a naked and violent dance of political power play. Will the lives and safety of ordinary citizens become mere collateral damage in West Bengal in the coming days?
