West Bengal: ‘Pressure from the Mamta govt,’ father of RG Kar victim on hospital denying admission to his injured wife

The father of the RG Kar victim alleged on August 10 that his wife, injured in a police lathicharge during Saturday’s protest march, was denied admission to a private hospital due to pressure from the state government.

The victim’s mother, who reportedly suffered injuries to her forehead, hands, and back, underwent a CT scan and other diagnostic tests on August 9 to evaluate both internal and external injuries, according to sources.

Sources said hospital officials declined to comment when approached. “The doctor who examined my wife on Saturday evening assured me she would be admitted for treatment. However, after he left, the hospital staff’s attitude suddenly changed. They began delaying and eventually told me my wife couldn’t be admitted due to pressure from the state government,” said the father of the RG Kar victim. He also claimed that when he reached out to the doctor again, the doctor said he couldn’t discuss the admission details further.

“He assured me that the prescribed medicine would be sufficient for her recovery,” the victim’s father said, adding that the doctor had recommended at least a two-day hospital stay when she was admitted on the evening of August 9. However, on August 10 afternoon, the mother—who had been allowed to stay overnight—was discharged by the hospital authorities.

The mother had alleged on August 9 that women police officers manhandled her during a march to the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, held to mark the one-year anniversary of her daughter’s rape and murder at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The alleged assault took place at the Park Street crossing, where police used baton charges on protesters trying to break through barricades and continue toward Vidyasagar Setu on their way to the secretariat.

“Police forced me to the ground, broke my ‘shankha’ (traditional conch shell bangle), and caused an injury to my forehead,” the victim’s mother alleged. She claimed that four to five police officers assaulted her during a clash between police and protesters. However, the police denied using any force against the victim’s parents. The victim’s father also alleged that police attempted to stop the family from joining the protest march, despite having court permission for a peaceful rally.