Supporters of football clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata.
| Photo Credit: PTI

PM Modi continuously monitoring the Mpox situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been continuously monitoring the MPox situation with the principal secretary Dr. P.K. Mishra directing that surveillance be enhanced and measures be taken for prompt detection of cases. He further directed that the testing laboratories network should be geared up for early diagnosis. At present, 32 labs are equipped for testing.

East Bengal, Mohun Bagan fans unite to protest Kolkata rape, murder at Salt Lake stadium

Violent protests erupted near Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata’s Eastern Metropolitan Bypass on Sunday as thousands of sports lovers raised slogans demanding justice for the rape and murder of a doctor at the city’s R.G. Kar Hospital and questioned the decision to cancel the Durand Cup Derby match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of Kolkata rape-murder case; hearing on August 20

The Supreme Court on Sunday (August 18, 2024) took suo motu cognisance of the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud is scheduled to hear the case, instituted on the court’s own motion, on Tuesday (August 20, 2024).

Five arrested for gangrape of minor girl in Arunachal Pradesh

The police in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district arrested five people for allegedly abducting a 13-year-old girl and gangraping her for five days.

Kolkata rape-murder case: Differences emerge in Trinamool ranks as protests continue

As protests continued to rage across Kolkata over the rape and murder of a doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, differences in Trinamool Congress ranks came to the fore on Sunday (August 18, 2024).

Indian Coast Guard Director-General Rakesh Pal dies in Chennai

Director-General of Indian Coast Guard Rakesh Pal passed away in Chennai on Sunday. He was 59. The Coast Guard chief, who was in Chennai to take part in an official function scheduled to be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Hamas says new Gaza proposal too close to Israel’s demands

The Palestinian group Hamas said on Sunday that a new proposal meant to bridge the gaps between Israel and the Islamist armed group over a Gaza ceasefire were too close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent positions.

Bangladesh jailbreaks a worry for India: think tank

The escape of some leaders of terrorist groups after mob-aided jailbreaks during the political turmoil in Bangladesh could have a debilitating effect in eastern India, specifically Assam and Tripura, a new think tank said.

Malaysian PM to meet Modi, issue of Zakir Naik still unresolved

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will land in Delhi on Monday (August 18, 2024) on a three-day visit, where he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will sign a number of agreements and chart out a “multi-sectoral cooperation agenda” to enhance trade, strategic ties, and people to people links, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced.

Indian, Sri Lankan canines train in Exercise Mitra Shakti

The armies of India and Sri Lanka have deployed canines — ”K9s” in military parlance — in the bilateral exercise Mitra Shakti underway in the island nation. The Indian Army has deployed Zac, a Belgian Malinois, while Sri Lanka has fielded two canines. The 10th edition of Exercise Mitra Shakti is being held from August 12-25 at the Army Training School, Maduru Oya, Sri Lanka.

People protest against the recent alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Kolkata doctor rape and murder: Kolkata Police issue prohibitory orders around R.G. Kar hospital

The Kolkata Police has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023) around R G Kar Medical College and Hospital for seven days with effect from August 18 to prevent unlawful assembly.

If an investigation indicts Siddaramaiah, Governor has to grant another sanction for his prosecution

The sanction granted by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot paves the way for an investigation against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988, at present, and not for his prosecution under the Act.

Air India cabin crew member complains of sexual assault at London hotel

An Air India cabin crew member was allegedly sexually assaulted at a London hotel on Thursday night after an intruder entered her room.

Rise in militancy in north Kashmir casts shadow over border tourism

The growing militant footprint in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir has cast a shadow over the border tourism that had picked up two years ago against the backdrop of a renewed ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. The process to get passes for areas closer to the Line of Control (LoC) has now been made stringent again, and many areas in north Kashmir are now listed as no-go zones, official sources said. 

Harsher anti-rape laws alone do not deter crimes against women, SC had warned govt. in Nirbhaya verdict

Stringent laws and punishments against rape may not be enough to fight rising crimes against women, the Supreme Court had warned the government in 2017. The court was at the time confirming the death penalty of four men, accused of the gruesome gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedic in a moving bus in the national capital in 2012. The woman, simply identified as ‘Nirbhaya’, succumbed to her injuries a few days later.

VHP plans nationwide Dharm Sammelans to counter Opposition’s attempts to divide Hindu community 

In an attempt to strengthen its outreach to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities and to counter the Opposition’s narrative that the BJP wants to make changes to the Constitution, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad is set to organise “Dharm Sammelans” (religious conferences) in SC/ST clusters and villages across the country. Many seers will visit and eat at Dalit homes as part of the campaign which is scheduled to start a month before Deepavali.

X says it is closing operations in Brazil due to judge’s content orders

Media platform X said on Saturday it would close its operations in Brazil “effective immediately” due to what it called “censorship orders” by Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes.

BIS promotes standardisation for Ayush products and procedures

With focus on promoting safety, efficacy, and quality of Ayush products and practices, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has been fast-tracking standardisation for the Ayush sector with the establishment of a department to expedite the process.

Panel for SC status to all Dalit converts racing against time as deadline nears

The Commission of Inquiry set up by the Centre to look into the possibility of granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians and Muslims is racing against time to submit its report as its two-year term is set to expire in October 2024.

Kolkata:

After a violent mob vandalised vehicles and the building of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal lashed out at the media, alleging that what happened was the result of ‘wrong and malicious media campaign’.

Addressing media, Mr Goyal said, “My DCP, who was protecting the boys, is unconscious and what has happened here is because of the wrong, malicious media campaign, which has been going as far as Kolkata police are concerned. What Kolkata Police not done?”

This came after a mob entered the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital campus, damaging the protesting site and public property, forcing security officials to disperse the mob.

Mr Goyal further stated that the Kolkata police have done everything under his command and have also arrested the main accused in the case.

“In this case, they have done everything and I am saying everything under my command. My men have worked day and night to collect evidence. They have collected the best evidence. The main accused have been arrested,” he said.

He further said that he was extremely angry about the rumours spread on this issue and added that due to the malicious media campaign, the people have lost trust in Kolkata Police.

“We have tried to satisfy the family but the rumours are being floated that some Mahapatra is being connected with a political Mahapatra. He is an intern who comes from a small place. His father is a primary school teacher and doesn’t have any kind of background. People are spreading these rumours and some of them are his friends, these doctors. Pathetic… I am extremely angry. We have not done anything wrong… Because of this malicious media campaign, people have lost trust in Kolkata Police. We never said there is only one person; we are waiting for scientific evidence as we don’t have anything to support,” he said.

Mr Goyal also mentioned that it’s not in his conscience to arrest someone based on rumours and said that they haven’t tried to save anyone related to this matter.

“I can’t just some kind of rumour can’t arrest an intern; it’s against my conscience… As far as I am concerned, my team is concerned we have done what is right. Now the case is already gone… CBI will be investigating it… We have been transparent with everyone… We wanted the students to form a seven-member committee on Sunday to share everything with them but they haven’t come up with the committee till today. It’s the most unfortunate thing–the motivated media campaign that was being run has portrayed the Kolkata Police in a very bad light. We are always with the people of Kolkata, but unfortunately, this kind of incident wouldn’t have happened if this kind of malicious campaign wasn’t run by the media…We have not tried to save anyone,” he said.

The mob also vandalised a car belonging to the Kolkata Police. Speaking to ANI, the driver of the car that was vandalised, Badyu Jamaan, said, “The crowd came suddenly and damaged the car. A brick hit me on my back when I was standing by the side of my car.”

Meanwhile, speaking to the media about the rape-murder incident, CPI (M) General Secretary D Raja said, “What happened in Kolkata was a heinous crime and such crimes should not take place anywhere in the country. We are celebrating 78 years of Independence. What is the meaning of independence if we cannot provide security and protection to our own women and children? If this happens to a lady doctor in a city like Kolkata, think of the condition of our working women in the agricultural field in tribal areas. What is happening? This is a very serious issue. What the Bengal government has done so far is not satisfactory. The Union government should take note and provide adequate security to our women and children.”

On August 9, a post-graduate trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The victim’s family has alleged that she was raped and murdered. This incident has triggered a nationwide protest by doctors and medical fraternities.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)