A civic volunteer of the Kolkata Police was arrested early on Saturday after he allegedly rode his motorcycle into a barricaded area and injured a Rabindra Bharati University student who was participating in a protest against the rape and murder of a doctor. The incident, which occurred at around 2 AM on BT Road near Sinthi crossing in the northern part of the city, sparked further outrage among the protesters.
According to a senior police officer, the civic volunteer, associated with the Sithi Police Station, entered the barricaded area where a night vigil was being held to demand justice for the deceased doctor, news agency PTI reported. The officer confirmed that the accused was in an inebriated condition at the time of the incident.
One of the protesting students, who was struck by the motorcycle, claimed that the accused was a civic volunteer, akin to Sanjay Roy, who is one of the suspects in the rape case. The students also alleged that a traffic sergeant at the scene helped the accused escape from the spot.
The agitated students subsequently blocked the arterial BT Road for nearly five hours, demanding strict penal action against the offender. "An FIR has been filed in this matter and the civic volunteer was arrested. We have demobilised him, and necessary legal steps have been taken," a senior police officer told PTI. Traffic movement was restored at around 8:30 AM after the students lifted the blockade.
R.G. Kar Medical College Protests
Junior doctors at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital have decided to start an "Abhay Telemedicine Clinic" from today, 31 August. The clinic will operate daily from 10 AM to 2 PM as a public service.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is staging protests across the state, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanding the death penalty for the accused in the Kolkata rape-murder case. The TMC's women's wing has announced further protests in West Bengal on 1 September, advocating for a law that mandates the death penalty in rape cases.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Kolkata Police Commissioner regarding the alleged use of force against protesters demanding justice for the rape and murder victim on 27 August.