Kolkata Police has extended prohibitory orders near the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for an additional week, until August 31.
The orders, which were first imposed on August 18, restrict meetings and gatherings of more than five people in the designated area.
Kolkata Police commissioner Vineet Goyal on Saturday issued a statement confirming the extension of Section 163 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) around the hospital. The prohibitory orders cover the area from Belgachia Road-J K Mitra crossing to some parts of Shyambazar five point crossing belt in North Kolkata.
Three days before the planned march to the West Bengal secretariat by a student organisation to demand justice for the woman doctor who was raped-murdered at a state-run hospital here on August 9, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday alleged that the state government is attempting to divert attention from the protest.
Adhikari, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, accused police of spreading rumours on social media about the upcoming rally on August 27. He claimed that the Mamata Banerjee-led government is using underhanded tactics to prevent protestors from reaching Nabanna.
In a post on X, Adhikari said, "Mamata Police is deploying a sinister 'toolkit' to redirect protestors away from marching towards Nabanna, where they seek justice for the RG Kar PGT woman doctor. The West Bengal Government is clearly shaken by the viral call for the 'Nabanna Abhijaan' on August 27."
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday began lie detection tests on former RG Kar Medical and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and five others as part of their probe into the rape-murder of a woman medic at the institute and also registered a case of alleged financial irregularities at the same facility, officials said.
The polygraph test on arrested key accused Sanjay Roy was postponed due to technical issues and the central probe agency will determine a new date soon, they added.
"The polygraph tests are being conducted on Ghosh and five others, including interns, doctors, and an person connected to Roy. Technical glitches prevented civic volunteer Roy's test from being conducted as scheduled. We will soon decide when to carry out the test," an officer said.
A section of drivers of app-based cab services in Kolkata on Saturday took out a rally in protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at a state-run hospital in the city.
Members of the Bengali film industry under the aegis of the West Bengal Motion Picture Artists Forum also assembled in Tollygunge area in the southern part of the city on the same issue.
Around 300 drivers participated in the rally from Rashbehari Crossing to Esplanade with some walking the stretch and some following with cars in the protest march organised by Leftist trade union CITU.
Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent at the hospital filed a complaint regarding corruption & irregularities happening at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, mentioning Dr Debashish Som's name.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday termed crimes against women an unpardonable sin, adding the guilty should not be spared. Modi's strong remarks follow protests against the brutal rape and murder of 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital.
BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan on Sunday criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in West Bengal for its alleged failure to ensure safety of women and said “it will pay the price for it”.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said, "The government is afraid of this movement of students, and they want to suppress the voice of the people. But the student society of West Bengal has awakened. By uprooting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from her power, the people of the state will immerse it into River Ganga. Today last day of our protest here but it is not the last day of our movement, there will be more protests in the future. I will address here today at around 4 PM and announce the list of further programs. BJP will remain on the streets continuously."