In the early hours of August 16, 2024, a young doctor from RG Kar Hospital took to social media to reveal a troubling encounter with the Kolkata Police. The doctor, who has been vocally demanding justice for a colleague brutally raped and murdered at the hospital, reported that police visited her home and pressured her to delete tweets related to the case and report to the police station the following day.
The young doctor, known by her X handle @epicnephrin_e, described the incident in a detailed post. She recounted that around 7:30 PM on August 15, Kolkata Police officers began searching for her in her neighbourhood. Her neighbours informed her mother that uniformed officers were looking for her, claiming it was necessary due to her posts on X about the ongoing case.
Couldn’t sleep without posting this.
My mom got a call from my neighbour (from my hometown) at around 7.30 pm that police(3-4 uniformed officers) were searching for my home. They were saying Kolkata police had asked them to summon me about some post and they searching for my…— purpleready (@epicnephrin_e) August 15, 2024
In her X post, she wrote, “The police eventually arrived at my home where my brother and sister-in-law were present. My brother put me on speakerphone and questioned me: ‘Did you post about a student of Burdwan University?’ I confirmed that I had, noting that I had seen media articles and believed an angle from people’s statuses. I updated my post after further verification. The police then instructed me to delete the post and report to the Town Thana the next day.”
She also shared that her brother pleaded with the officers, emphasising how deeply affected she was by the case, and that her mother was distraught.
The young doctor had been actively posting about the RG Kar rape and murder case, seeking justice for her fellow doctor who had suffered horrific brutality. On August 14, a supporter of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had threatened her, indicating that the police would come after her. This threat prompted her to issue an apology tweet shortly before the police visit, which drew concern from many on social media about the intimidation and threats she faced.
Alongside her, others have reported similar experiences with the Kolkata Police.
Shefali Vaidya, an author and commentator, publicly shared a notice she received from the police. “So I got this threatening letter from @KolkataPolice for merely asking a few questions and exercising my right of free speech. This is a clear case of @MamataOfficial administration silencing private citizens using the power of Kolkata Police. As a woman and mother, I fear for my safety. We all know what Kolkata Police can do to women who speak against @MamataOfficial in West Bengal,” Vaidya wrote.
Request – Please read through and RT for you agree.
So I got this threatening letter from @KolkataPolice for merely asking a few questions and for exercising my right of free speech.
This is a clear case of @MamataOfficial administration silencing the voice of private citizens… pic.twitter.com/SiM6fTORFa
— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) August 16, 2024
The rape and murder case of the 32-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital has ignited nationwide outrage. Thousands of doctors protested on August 14, demanding justice. During these protests, mobs attacked RG Kar Hospital, with the police reportedly being passive and some hiding in bathrooms, claiming doctors were responsible for their own safety. After the violence, which many speculate aimed at erasing evidence, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the Left and “Ram” for the chaos.
Earlier, the Kolkata Police Commissioner had blamed social media for eroding public trust, asserting that the police had done everything possible to seek justice for the victim. However, as criticism of the TMC government and the police persisted, the Kolkata Police began threatening individuals reporting on the case with legal action. The police even responded to queries on Twitter, addressing only the first two of four questions posed by a netizen—regarding the reinstatement of Dr Sandip Ghosh and the renovation work at RG Kar Hospital during the investigation.
Crime of Scene is Seminar Room and it has not been touched. Don’t spread unverified news. We will initiate legal action for spreading rumours. https://t.co/V76OKNgMPf
— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) August 15, 2024
Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who had resigned as principal of RG Kar Medical College amid protests, was promptly appointed as principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH). This move was strongly objected to by the Calcutta High Court, which ordered his resignation and leave. Allegations suggest Ghosh has close ties with the TMC.
The postmortem report of the victim reveals the gruesome nature of the crime. The 32-year-old trainee doctor was tortured and raped before being suffocated. Her thyroid cartilage was shattered, and she sustained severe injuries from beatings and strangulation. The report confirmed sexual assault and murder. Civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy has been arrested and confessed to the crime. The Calcutta High Court has handed over the case to the CBI for further investigation.
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