Kolkata Doctor's Rape-Murder: No Dharna Allowed Around RG Kar Hospital; BJP Takes 'Tyrant' Jibe At Mamata

Prohibitory orders are in place around Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital for the next seven days amid protests over the rape-murder of trainee doctor.

Kolkata Police imposed 163 under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 around RG Kar Hospital for seven days with effect from 18/08/24. During this period, no gathering, dharna or rally will be allowed there, the police said.

In an order released on Saturday by Commissioner of Police, Vineet Kumar Goyal, it was stated that rallies, meetings, processions, dharnas, demonstrations, and the unlawful assembly of five or more persons are prohibited in the specified area of Kolkata.

“…In exercise of the power conferred by Sub-Section (1) of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, read with Sub-Section (3) of the said Section, I, Vineet Kumar Goyal, Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, being an Executive Magistrate for the Metropolitan area of Kolkata as well as the district of South 24 Parganas (within the limits of the suburbs of Kolkata falling under Kolkata police jurisdiction), do hereby prohibit, for a period of seven (7) days from 18.08.2024 to 24.08.2024, or until further notice, any unlawful assembly of five (5) or more persons, carrying of lathis, any lethal or other dangerous weapons, or the commission of any act likely to cause a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity within the specified area in the town of Kolkata,” the order stated.

Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP’s IT Department and Co-incharge West Bengal, attacked the Mamata Banerjee over the prohibitory order and said she is is scared of the popular uprising against her “decrepit regime”.

“The tyrant is scared of the popular uprising against her decrepit regime. But she won’t be able to stem the tide. Never ever forget: Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Police tried to erase every evidence and protect criminals responsible for rape and murder of the victim in RG Kar MCH,” he said in a post on X.

The horrific incident has shaken the country with nationwide protests going on demanding the prompt action in the investigation. Junior doctors and medical students across the hospitals and medical colleges in Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and other cities staged a protest demanding speedy justice.

The IMA on Saturday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the implementation of its demands — a thorough overhaul of the working and living conditions of resident doctors, a central law to check violence against healthcare personnel at workplaces, declaration of hospitals as safe zones with the first step being mandatory security entitlements, meticulous and professional investigation of the last week incident in Kolkata, and an appropriate and dignified compensation to the bereaved family.

The Union health ministry on Saturday released an official statement and said a committee will be formed to suggest all possible measures for ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals.

The case pertains to rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Amid the ongoing protests, some miscreants entered the premises of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital during early hours of Thursday and vandalised portions of the medical facility, where the body of the victim was found.