Kolkata horror: Police ‘foil’ attack bid on agitating doctors, victim’s mother sees hope amid impasse

Kolkata police claimed Saturday (Sep 14) they had foiled an attack on agitating junior doctors by “professional criminals” and detained two individuals. The medics have been staging a sit-in outside Swasthya Bhavan, West Bengal's health department headquarters, in response to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. They are demanding justice for the victim, better security at state-run hospitals and removal of top health officials.

"We had intelligence from our sources that professional criminals were planning an attack on the protesting doctors outside Swasthya Bhawan. We also came across an audio clip of a conversation between two individuals, exposing this conspiracy," Bidhannagar DCP Aneesh Sarkar told reporters.

"We verified the authenticity of the audio clip, and based on it, we have registered a case. Two individuals have been arrested so far, and one of them, Sanjeev Das, has admitted that the voice in the recording is his," the officer added.

Earlier, the agitating doctors reached West BengalChief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence to hold a meeting to end the RG Kar impasse. However, the meeting couldn't take place by 9 pm IST as doctors demanded the meeting to be live-streamed for transparency.

Doctors agreed to meet with the CM after the latter,earlier on Saturdayvisited them outside the Swasthya Bhawan and assured them of justice.

"I have been a student leader myself, I have also struggled a lot in my life, I understand your struggle. I am not worried about my position. It rained all night yesterday, you were sitting here protesting; I was worried all night...After listening to your demands, I will study them. I do not run the government alone, I will definitely find a solution by studying your demands with senior officials. Whoever is found guilty will definitely be punished. I am asking for some time from you. The State government will not take any action against you (protesting doctors)," the CM told the doctors.

The victim’s mother on Saturday expressed hopes that the talks between the doctors and the CM will yield positive outcomes.

"Instead of merely saying that whoever is found guilty would be punished, she should have been more categorical and direct. Considering the destruction of evidence at the crime scene, and the arrest of only one person, we were expecting the CM to be more forthright," she told the reporters.

(With inputs from agencies)