Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Mamata Banerjee leads a rally, raises demand for death penalty

Amid massive protests and violent scuffle over the Kolkata hospital rape-murder, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a massive rallyand appealed forthe death penalty to be given to the accused in the case.

The chief minister gave the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the ultimatum till Sunday (August 18) to ensure that the culprits are given capital punishment to the accused who is accused of the gruesome rape and murder of a female doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

"Within Sunday (August 18), CBI has to facilitate the hanging of the guilty and complete the entire probe. Our Kolkata Police has completed 90 per cent of the probe," announced CM Mamata.

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At the rally, the chief minister raised "we want death penalty" slogans and said,"I salute the protest by the public. They did the right thing."

BJP workers clash with police officials, 19 protesters arrested

A violent scuffle broke out between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and Kolkata police during the protests outside CGO Complex on Friday (August 16). During the protests, the police detained several BJP workers.

Members of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) SUCI (C) also clashed with the Kolkata police in Hazra while demanding justice for the victim.

Across the country, doctors from various medical organisations took to the streets to demand justice for the female doctor who was brutally raped and killed at RG Kar Medical College.

Sawai Man Singh Hospital (SMS) Medical College's resident doctors announced a complete shutdown and Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science in Patna, Bihar also said that no services will be provided till justice is delivered.

Five doctors and hospital staff were summoned by CBI's Kolkata office for questioning in the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case, which has left the entire nation shocked.

Court says 'absolute failure of state machinery' led to vandalism

TheCalcutta High Court, reacting to the concerns raised by the victim's parents who said that the room where thebody of the doctor was found wasdemolished by vandals amid protests on Wednesday (August 14), demanded photographs which can prove that the seminar room at Kolkata'sRG Kar Hospital is in safe conditions.

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The court also said it was an"absolute failure of state machinery" which made it possible for the hospital to get vandalised.

Explaining the situation, the state said, "There was a mob of around 7,000. The number suddenly swelled... I have videos. They broke barricades... tear gas was fired and 15 police personnel were injured. Deputy Commissioner was injured. Police vehicles damaged. Emergency room ransacked (but) place of occurrence (the crime scene) was protected."

The bench, headed by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, asked why permission was given for public protests on such a heated issue.

"Normally police has an intelligence wing... similar things happened on Hanuman Jayanti. If 7,000 are to gather, it hard to believe police did not know," the court stated.

The court pointed out that Section 144 was in effect at the time and said "... you should have cordoned off the area. 7,000 people can't come walking..."

(With inputs from agencies)