Weeks of frustration, protests, and pent-up anger finally exploded on Wednesday night when thousands of people swarmed the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. The crowd, demanding justice, suddenly turned violent, breaking through police barricades. What started as a peaceful protest with placards demanding justice, soon transformed into chaos with sticks in hand, and police officers were seen fleeing to save themselves.
The incident, which occurred late on August 14, was caught on camera. This 11-minute video shows the sequence of events, detailing why, how, and when the crowd lost its temper. You can see the intensity of the public anger following the rape and murder of a doctor on August 8.
Chaos ensued around midnight...
Following the appeal for protests, several left-wing organizations gathered crowds outside hospitals on the night of August 14-15. By midnight, a sea of people had formed outside RG Kar Medical College, shouting slogans and facing police barricades.
The scene before the crowd turned violent was marked by candles in their hands, anger on their faces, and a few police officers standing helplessly behind the barricades. The video shows people chanting slogans, shaking the barricades, while a few police officers stood on the other side, looking helpless.
One crucial aspect of this protest is that students from RG Kar Hospital were continuously advising people to stay away from the barricades, urging for a peaceful demonstration. However, the crowd, composed of members from various groups, was determined to break through the barricades. This standoff continued for a while until the crowd suddenly turned violent, and the barricade fell.
Source: aajtak
Then the mob took over with frenzy
After breaking through the barricades, the video shows clashes between the crowd and the police, with the mob entering the hospital premises. The situation escalated as the crowd damaged hospital property, vehicles, and other visible objects. The chaos reached a point where even the police had to retreat inside the hospital.
Source: aajtak
Placards for justice fell, emotions ran high
One striking image captured by the camera was of placards demanding justice, now lying on the ground. The hands that once held them were now wielding sticks.
Source: aajtak
Read Also: Did the mob breach the crime scene in the Kolkata hospital? Police clarification
The public is not wrong...
A man, visibly enraged, appeared on camera post-attack, claiming that the public was not wrong, just angry. He demanded the government take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
Questions arise on the mob's behavior
The mob attacked the emergency building where the female doctor was raped and murdered, a place filled with evidence of the crime. To disperse the aggressive crowd, the police resorted to baton charges and tear gas, resulting in some injured officers.
According to Kolkata police, a group of about 40 unknown miscreants among the protestors caused the RG Kar Medical College chaos. The violence led to damage to police vehicles and some two-wheelers. Nationwide anger persists post the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital, with the case being investigated by the CBI.
