RG Kar victim's parents taken to hospital after being injured during protest | What we know so far

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday called off the party’s ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ protest after a three-hour sit-in at the Park Street-J L Nehru Road intersection, alleging police brutality against peaceful demonstrators seeking justice for the RG Kar hospital medic who was raped and murdered last year.

Mother of victim injured in police action

Adhikari said the decision to withdraw the protest was influenced by the condition of the victim’s mother, who he claimed was “brutally lathicharged” by police during the protest. “She suffered a serious forehead injury. Since the parents had joined the rally at my request, it is now my responsibility to ensure she receives proper medical care,” he said.

He later visited the super-speciality hospital where the mother is admitted and described her condition as “serious” and “in immense pain.”

Protest suspended for the day, not the cause

Announcing the suspension of the protest, Adhikari clarified that the decision was temporary. “The ruthless police action shows scant regard for democracy, peaceful protest, and women’s safety,” he said. He promised that the next phase of agitation would be “fiercer” and planned in consultation with BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya and other party leaders.

Adhikari also cited the upcoming protest by the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front and Abhaya Manch as another reason for stepping back for the day. “Though they didn’t support our Nabanna rally, our cause is the same — justice for the deceased doctor. We support their movement,” he added.

Police, state govt under fire

Adhikari displayed a video clip of alleged police excesses and announced plans to seek action against Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma and other officers under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He also alleged a deeper conspiracy behind the violence, suggesting that the state government tried to “finish” the victim’s parents for not toeing the official line.

TMC hits Back, blames BJP for violence

Senior Trinamool Congress leader and minister Shashi Panja countered the BJP’s allegations, claiming that the saffron party brought in “outsiders” and engaged in vandalism on Raksha Bandhan. “They don’t understand the spirit and heritage of Bengal,” she said.

TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh added that the BJP’s actions showed “disrespect for Hindu sentiments” on a pious day and claimed there were “only a few hundred protesters who provoked the police.”

Victim’s father seeks justice, criticizes investigation

The father of the victim, a 26-year-old medical student brutally raped and murdered in Kolkata last year, has expressed deep frustration with the handling of the investigation by both the Kolkata Police and the CBI. "We have come to Delhi with hope. It has been a year now, and we have been roaming around for justice," he said, highlighting the lack of progress in the case. The family is determined to press for accountability and is planning to meet with the CBI Director and possibly Union Home Minister Amit Shah to urge more efficient action. The victim’s father accused the Bengal government of prioritizing political power over public welfare, and he claimed that numerous individuals, including the state's Health Secretary, were involved in covering up the crime. "At least 30 to 40 people are involved in this," he said, expressing his disappointment with the authorities' inaction.

Details of the RG Kar hospital tragedy

The tragic rape and murder occurred on August 9, 2024, at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the victim was found dead in a seminar room. The post-mortem confirmed that the victim had been raped before being murdered. The brutal incident ignited widespread outrage and protests across the state, particularly among students, doctors, and civil society groups. The ongoing investigation has failed to yield results, leaving the victim's family and the public demanding swift justice. Despite claims of evidence tampering, the CBI’s response has been slow, leading to continued calls for accountability.

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