10 people have been arrested for violence at RG Kar Hospital during midnight protests related to the Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder case.
Unidentified individuals forcibly entered the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital premises shortly after midnight, vandalizing parts of the medical facility where a trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered last week. A total of 10 people were arrested, and three were detained in connection with the incident.
According to the police, a group of at least 40 people posing as protesters entered the hospital premises, throwing stones at the police and damaging property. They targeted the emergency department, nursing station, and medicine store, while also damaging CCTV cameras and ransacking a stage where junior doctors have been demonstrating since August 9.
The incident occurred during the 'Reclaim the Night' protest march seeking justice for the 31-year-old doctor whose body was found in a seminar hall at the hospital. The police had to use tear gas shells to disperse the mob. A police vehicle and a few two-wheelers at the spot were also damaged, and some officers were injured in the violence.
Earlier in the morning, the Kolkata Police released several photos from the incident, identifying people who entered the medical facility and ransacked the emergency ward. In the photos posted on social media, the police circled the faces of some people in the mob and sought information on them.
The attack on the nursing station prompted nurses to join the junior doctors in protest at the hospital. They staged protests against the violence, demanding enhanced security measures. "Such hooliganism inside a hospital is unacceptable," one protesting nurse said.
Doctors believe the attack was intended to demoralize their protests but only strengthened their resolve to seek justice for their colleague. In response to the attack, police have increased their presence around the hospital.
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