A 24-year-old gym instructor, Souvik Das, has been arrested in connection with the violent mob attack on RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The attack followed the tragic rape and murder of a junior doctor at the facility.
The assault occurred early Thursday morning when a mob of hundreds stormed the hospital, causing extensive damage. The violence erupted during a midnight protest by doctors demanding justice for their murdered colleague. The mob, armed with cricket bats and metal rods, vandalized the hospital, destroying CCTV cameras, medicine cabinets, and clinical equipment. Security personnel were also assaulted during the rampage.
Souvik Das has confessed to participating in the vandalism, although he claims he was caught up in the emotion of the moment. “I had gone there to participate in the protest rally. But when everyone started vandalizing emotionally, I also started doing it,” Das explained. He acknowledged his actions were wrong, despite stating he did not have a premeditated plan to attack the hospital.
Das addressed the CCTV footage showing him with a steel rod, asserting that he was handed the rod by someone else. He also mentioned recognizing several other participants in the vandalism from his gym, indicating that the attack involved many familiar faces.
The incident has sparked a political firestorm. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused Left groups and the BJP of orchestrating the attack, while the Opposition claims the ruling Trinamool Congress may have supported the mobs to sabotage the investigation.
The violence has led to widespread condemnation and has revived a nationwide strike by healthcare providers and doctors’ unions, which had briefly been called off. The attack has deeply shaken the hospital staff and the broader healthcare community.
So far, police have arrested 32 individuals in connection with the attack and have released photos of 76 suspects. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities actively searching for additional suspects involved in the violent episode.
The court has criticized the situation, with remarks highlighting the inability of the local authorities to control the situation effectively. The comment, “7,000 people can’t come walking,” reflects concerns about the scale of the mob and the challenges in managing such large-scale violence.