Kolkata rape-murder: 19 arrested for vandalism at RG Kar Hospital

Kolkata Police on Friday (August 16) said it has so far arrested 19 people in connection with the vandalism and violence at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the metropolis.

Those arrested were remanded to police custody by a city court till August 22, officials said.

The emergency ward, nursing station, medicine store, and parts of the outpatient department of the hospital were vandalised by miscreants on Thursday (August 15) amid midnight protests by women across West Bengal condemning the alleged rape and murder of a doctor in the hospital's seminar hall on August 9.

Several persons, including some policemen, were injured in the violence.

Strike by junior doctors continues

Meanwhile, the cease-work by junior doctors at government healthcare facilities, protesting the rape-murder of the postgraduate trainee, continued on Friday. The agitating doctors have been demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits and enhanced security at the workplace.

Opposition parties in the state have accused the police of not taking adequate action when the vandalism and violence took place at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said on Thursday evening that two floors of its emergency ward have been destroyed, medicines looted, and infrastructure and equipment severely damaged.

(With agency inputs)