NRS Medical College and Hospital was attacked by a violent mob on Monday night following the death of an old patient. Mohammed Sayeed, a resident of Tangra in Kolkata, was brought to the hospital in a critical condition on Sunday night. Although he was admitted to the Emergency immediately, family members claim that no proper care was given. The deceased is a local imam, claim sources.
While reports claim that the deceased was 75 years old, people from the fraternity claim that he was actually close to 85. The Hospital turned into a battleground after family members assaulted junior doctors at the institution. The Police, when it arrived eventually, had to resort to Lathicharge to bring the situation under control. Doctors at the institution have now shut down its gates demanding protection, the Police said on Tuesday.
The situation of at least two of the injured junior doctors is said to be critical. Social Media is flooded with images of the injured interns. Images of one of the injured intern’s volume rendering CT are doing the rounds of the internet which show a horrible wound on his skull.
The story is even more distressing than it sounds. Allegedly, rioters came in two lorries to attack the doctors at the institution. The Police has been accused of being mute spectators while the mob was thrashing the doctors. There were nearly 200 rioters who descended on the campus to assault the doctors.
Images are also circulating about alleged calls that were made for violence and incitement on social media. The individual whose posts are being circulated appears to be a radical Muslim fundamentalist.
A student at the institution OpIndia.com spoke to said, “The Kolkata Police were standing as mere eyewitnesses while the mob was beating us. My friends were thrashed while they lay on the ground. The Police were watching all of this. They pelted stones and bricks at us, and need I even mention punches and kicks? They came in trucks to attack us.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya says that 4 people have been arrested in connection with the incident. An investigation is also required into the conduct of the Police and if allegations against them is found true, then punishment is necessary for them as well.
Meanwhile, the students at the institution are protesting against the violence and have shut down services. It appears to be spreading to other institutions as well. There have been previous instances of violence following the death of a patient in Kolkata. Students in other hospitals are also shutting down services in protest and solidarity with the victims of the mob violence at NRS Hospital.
The violence at NRS hospital marks the continuous degradation of the law and order situation in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee. While students are demanding security for themselves, the Chief Minister of Bengal is busy unveiling Vidyasagar’s Bust at College Street.