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Synopsis

The Calcutta High Court today asked the Kolkata Police to place on record the entire sequence of events that led to "the unfortunate event" of vandalism of the R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital campus which occurred on the night of 14th August.

The division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice H Bhattacharyya said that the matter was listed urgently because of the multiple emails received of the vandalism.

Court asked the CBI to proceed as deemed appropriate. It directed the in charge of the hospital to file two separate affidavits narrating the true state of affairs and all matters incidental and connected there by the next hearing date.

During the hearing, the court was told by the State that a mob of approximately 7,000 people gathered at the hospital, broke through the barricades, damaged police vehicles, ransacked the emergency room, and injured 15 police personnel, including the DCP.

In response, the court questioned why a CrPC 144 order wasn't implemented and why the police lacked prior knowledge that such a large crowd was about to gather there.

The Chief Justice called it a "complete failure of the state machinery". When the state mentioned that police were present, he questioned how they could protect others if they couldn't safeguard their own personnel, expressing concern over how doctors could work fearlessly in such conditions.

Court said that the incident revealed that the situation is gone beyond the control of state police.

Court stressed that it is important to provide adequate protection to the doctors currently protesting so they can safely perform their duties.

While noting that it had previously requested the doctors to leave the protest and perform their duty to treat patients, court acknowledged that this incident would certainly affect their mindset.

Court directed the petitioners to inform the leaders of the doctors' association to appear before the court on the next date. 

Court also requested the persons known to the victim and the media not to circulate the photo of the victim or her name and details.

According to media reports, Kolkata Police have arrested 19 people in connection with the vandalism. A city court has remanded the individuals in custody until August 22.

A large mob stormed the medical college campus, vandalizing the emergency ward, nursing station, medicine store, and sections of the outpatient department.