Mamata leads rally demanding death penalty for the accused; blames CPI(M)-BJP for RG Kar Hospital vandalism

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest rally from Moulali to Dorina Crossing in Kolkata on Friday, demanding justice for a woman doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last week. The protest, joined by Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists, echoed Banerjee's call for capital punishment for the accused.

The woman post-graduate trainee doctor was allegedly assaulted and killed in the seminar room of the state-run hospital on August 9. The next day, a civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the crime. However, the situation escalated further when a group of around 40 people stormed the hospital in the early hours of Thursday, vandalizing the emergency department, nursing unit, and medicine store. The mob also damaged CCTV cameras and ransacked a stage where junior doctors had been protesting against the incident and demanding enhanced security measures.

Addressing the rally, Banerjee accused the opposition CPI(M) and BJP of orchestrating the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital, claiming it was an attempt to obscure the truth behind the crime by spreading fake news on social media. She reiterated her demand for the culprits to face capital punishment and commended the Kolkata Police for their initial investigation, which has since been taken over by the CBI as per a Calcutta High Court order. Banerjee urged the CBI to resolve the case by Sunday and ensure the guilty are hanged.

"The nexus between the Left and BJP should be exposed. The CPI(M) and the BJP are behind the vandalism of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. They vandalized the hospital to destroy evidence of the ghastly crime," Banerjee stated during her speech, condemning efforts to mislead the public and demanding swift justice for the slain doctor.