Protesting doctors in Kolkata against brutal rape and murder of trainee doctor (Image Source: The Hindu)
Since the evening of August 15, the Kolkata police have launched an extensive “crackdown” on individuals posting about the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital. In their effort to combat what they term “misinformation,” the police have filed 10 FIRs, initiated cases against 35 people, and issued notices to over 300 individuals, as reported by News18.
The FIRs include charges related to criminal conspiracy, violations under the IT Act, and other cognisable offences. Among those targeted are journalists, politicians, doctors, and social media users. The allegations involve the dissemination of incorrect information, misleading videos, voice notes, and claims related to the case.
One notable case involves author and activist Shefali Vaidya, who received a notice from the Kolkata police for questioning their inaction and the lawlessness under the ruling TMC government.
Similarly, a trainee doctor who posted about threats she and her family received since sharing details about the case alleged that the police forced her to delete certain posts.
A senior officer of Kolkata Police noted that the numbers of FIRs and cases are expected to increase as more notices are issued and legal actions are taken. The officer emphasised, “The spread of ‘lies and distortions of facts’ can have devastating consequences for both justice and social harmony.”
The crackdown follows criticism directed at the Kolkata Police, which had previously blamed social media for eroding public trust and claimed to have done everything possible to ensure justice for the RG Kar victim. Despite these claims, the police began threatening those reporting on the case with legal action after facing ongoing scrutiny of the TMC government and their own actions.
In an attempt to defend both the TMC government and their conduct, the Kolkata Police addressed questions on Twitter from a netizen. However, they responded to only the first two questions and avoided addressing why Dr Sandip Ghosh was reinstated and why renovation work began at RG Kar Hospital during the ongoing investigation.
Dr Sandip Ghosh had resigned from his position as principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital amid widespread protests. He was immediately appointed as principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH) the same day. The Calcutta High Court objected to this move, ordering him to submit his resignation and take leave. Allegations suggest Dr Ghosh has close ties with the TMC.
The postmortem report of the 32-year-old trainee doctor revealed she was brutally tortured before being suffocated to death. The four-page report detailed “perverted sexuality” and “genital torture,” with serious injuries to her private parts and a shattered thyroid cartilage. The rape and murder are believed to have occurred between 3 and 5 am on August 9. Her injuries included cuts on her hands and face, and shards of glass from her broken spectacles were found in her eyes.
The autopsy confirmed sexual assault and a civic volunteer named Sanjoy Roy has been arrested and confessed to the crime. The case has been transferred to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.
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