Doctor rape-murder: Scuffle breaks out between Kolkata police and protesting BJP workers; Suvendu Adhikari detained

A scuffle broke out Thursday between Kolkata police and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers protesting the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

Several BJP leaders, including LoP Suvendu Adhikari and MLA Agnimitra Paul, participated in the protest before police detained them.  

Suvendu Adhikari said that the Bengal BJP is demanding justice for the victim and the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “BJP is fighting; justice should be done, and the CM should resign immediately,” Adhikari said.

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh stated that West Bengal and the entire country is on the road due to the incident. “The country is ashamed of the way the CM is trying to protect the accused,” Ghosh said.

Ghosh also cited Supreme Court judge Justice J B Padriwala, who said he hadn't seen such a case in his 30-year career. Ghosh added, "The entire administration needs cleansing, and also, the CM, Mamata Banerjee must be changed. The accused must be punished, and those protecting the accused must be thrown out of power."

BJP leader Roopa Ganguly, who participated in the protest, said that the people of West Bengal have little hope. “Although the evidence has been destroyed, we have hope that the culprit will be caught,” Ganguly said.

Earlier, BJP leader C R Kesavan claimed that Mamata Banerjee had lost the confidence of the people of West Bengal and called for her resignation. Meanwhile, BJP leader and National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused TMC of trying to save the accused in the case.

The rape and murder of the trainee doctor on August 9 has sparked nationwide protests.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court, which took suo motu cognisance of the matter, questioned who was in touch with the principal of the R G Kar Medical College and why the police filed the FIR late.

The court stated that justice and medicine cannot be stopped and directed the Centre and the states to take urgent steps to institutionalise the safety of medics across the country.