9 arrested in Kolkata’s RG Kar vandalism during protests over trainee doctor's rape and murder

The trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered at the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which is located in North Kolkata's Belgachia area.

One person, a civic volunteer, has been arrested in connection with the case but protesting students suspect more people are involved in the case.

Women in Kolkata and across the country had organised a vigil titled "Women, Reclaim the Night" on Wednesday evening.

Around 11 pm, during the vigil, a group of people entered the hospital grounds and began causing destruction.

Vehicles were attacked, public property was damaged, and the police had to resort to baton-charge and tear gas to restore order.

Fifteen policemen were reported injured during the incident.

By Thursday morning, the Kolkata Police released images of individuals suspected to be part of the mob, sharing them on social media with the faces of the suspects highlighted. The arrests were made a few hours later.

The police have not revealed the identity of the arrested individuals. However, a doctor, Anubhav Mondal, who is taking part in the agitation outside RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, said he was among those circled in the photographs disseminated by the Kolkata Police.

Mondal told NDTV that attempts to instil fear in the protesters will not work and the protests will “continue and get bigger”.

Following social media claims that the seminar hall where the 31-year-old trainee doctor had been raped and murdered was also vandalized by the mob, the Kolkata Police clarified that no such incident had occurred. The police further warned the public against spreading false information.

"Crime scene is Seminar Room and it has not been touched. Don't spread unverified news. We will initiate legal action for spreading rumours," the police said in a post on X.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on visited Kolkata's RG Kar College and Hospital on Thursday afternoon after miscreants went on a rampage and vandalized the Emergency Building amid massive anti-rape march by women and men across the state last night.

Bose entered the Emergency Building, took stock of the situation and interacted with the protesting students on the site.

The agitating doctors had to flee owing to the sudden clashes. Media personnel were attacked.

The miscreants vandalised the stage where the protest was taking place. They even overturned the police vehicles.

Some police personnel also received injuries. The police had to resort to using tear gas to disperse off the crowd.