RG Kar under attack! Mob vandalize hospital property, polie vehicles; Cops resort to lathi charge

A mob of men armed with sticks broke through police barricades and stormed the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital premises on Wednesday night, overturning a police vehicle and smashing property in front of TV cameras.

The incident occurred even as thousands of women marched peacefully through the streets of Calcutta, demanding justice for the young doctor who was raped and murdered at the hospital. Soon after the attack started, several screenshots started trending on X along with videos in which doctors were hiding in fear from the mob.

Despite the presence of a large police force and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed at the hospital, the mob managed to cause significant damage. The police responded by firing tear gas and resorting to a lathi charge in an attempt to disperse the mob. At least one policeman was injured during the confrontation as the police engaged in pitched battles with the attackers. The mob also pelted stones at the police, escalating the violence.

The stark contrast between the violent vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and the peaceful protests across Calcutta and Bengal has raised serious questions about who might benefit from turning these protests violent. The incident has marred what was otherwise a day of peaceful demonstrations, casting a shadow over the ongoing efforts to seek justice for the victim.