As West Bengal mourns the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the CBI on Friday detained the institute’s former principal, Professor Dr. Sandip Ghosh, for questioning.
His role as the then head of the administration in the aftermath of the death was questioned by protesting students and the victim’s parents.
After Ghosh was removed from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and reinstated as the principal of the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH), opposition parties too raised questions about his influence and connection with the ruling party.
Interestingly, Ghosh treated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's leg when she had injured it during the 2021 Assembly elections.
Ghosh was summoned for questioning by the CBI. As he failed to respect the summons, CBI intercepted him on the road and took him to its office in Kolkata’s CGO complex.
The former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital had approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking protection. He cited a lack of security as the reason for skipping the CBI summons.
Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam instructed Ghosh to report to the CBI office. The court assured that the police would provide security and suggested that he either be at home and contact them if necessary or proceed directly to the CBI office.
Meanwhile, different political parties took over the streets of Kolkata on Friday in protest of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last week.
While West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee led a rally of TMC women activists and leaders in Kolkata, the BJP took out protests across West Bengal.
The TMC rally, attended by party MPs and MLAs, including Mahua Moitra, Dola Sen, Sayani Ghosh, and Sayantika Banerjee among others, demanded capital punishment for the culprits involved in brutality.
“Organise protest to demand capital punishment of the culprit and against the BJP and Left’s conspiracy,” said Banerjee from the rally in Kolkata’s Esplanade.
The TMC supremo also alleged that AI-generated multimedia content was being shared to spread false information about the RG Kar incident and tarnish West Bengal and the ruling party’s image. She said, “I know CPIM and BJP workers vandalised the RG Kar campus on Wednesday night.”
She also attacked the BJP on the Unnao and Hathras incidents, while also mentioning the protests by women wrestlers against former Wrestling Federation of India president and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh.
“They didn’t protest during Unnao or Hathras incidents. They didn’t protest when Bilkis Bano’s rapists were released. They closed their eyes when wrestlers were protesting,” the CM remarked.
Meanwhile, the BJP conducted protests at multiple locations across the state, including in Kolkata. The saffron party, under the leadership of West Bengal party president Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, had scheduled a dharna in Shyambajar.
The BJP, however, alleged that their party’s stage was destroyed before they could start their protest. According to the scheduled plan, BJP leaders and activists gathered at Shyambazar around 1 pm. As they attempted to rebuild the stage, Calcutta police detained them, including Dr. Majumdar.
Later in the day, the BJP’s Mahila Morcha, led by its national president Vanathi Srinivasan, tried to hold a protest march till Mamata Banerjee’s residence. However, the women were stopped at the very beginning of their march.
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also led a candle march in front of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Kolkata Police, on the other hand, is also investigating the incident of vandalism that occurred inside RG Kar Medical College and Hospital premises on Wednesday night. 25 suspects have been so far arrested with the help of common people, informed the police on its social media handles.
