"Malicious campaign on social media": What CP Vineet Goyal said on mob violence at RG Kar

The 'Reclaim the Night' protest in Kolkata, which began as a peaceful demonstration against the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor, spiraled into chaos as a mob forcefully entered the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protest, aimed at demanding justice for the victim, took a violent turn when the crowd broke through police barricades and caused significant damage within the hospital premises.

Visuals from the scene showed the mob smashing chairs and overturning objects in front of TV cameras, even as police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in large numbers at the hospital. The situation escalated further as police resorted to tear gas and lathi charges to disperse the unruly crowd, leading to several injuries.

Kolkata Commissioner of Police Vineet Goyal expressed his frustration, attributing the incident to a "malicious campaign" on social media that he believes fueled the violence. "What has happened here is because of the wrong media campaign, which has been malicious... What has the Kolkata Police not done? It has done everything in this case... We have tried to satisfy the family, but rumors are being floated... I am extremely angry. We have not done anything wrong," Goyal stated.

He further emphasized that the Kolkata Police have been working diligently on the case and refuted claims of negligence. "Because of a malicious media campaign, Kolkata police have lost the trust of the people. We have never said that there is only one person (accused), we have said that we are waiting for scientific evidence and it takes time... Just based on rumors, I can't arrest a young PG student, it's against my conscience," he added. Goyal reassured that with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) now handling the case, a fair and thorough investigation would be conducted, and the Kolkata Police would extend full cooperation.

The chaotic scenes at RG Kar Medical College stand in stark contrast to the largely peaceful 'Reclaim the Night' protests that have been taking place across Kolkata and other parts of Bengal, as thousands of women and supporters march to demand justice and safety for women.