R.G. Kar hostels deserted; mob violence has instilled fear in us, say MBBS students

R.G. Kar medical college’s hostels bear a deserted look with woman students and doctors having left the premises after the midnight violence on August 15

On a day the Supreme Court ordered deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital here, where a doctor was raped and murdered on August 9, the college’s hostels bore a deserted look with woman students and doctors having left the premises after the midnight violence on August 15.

Although a section of students said the Supreme Court order brought hope of better security, the mob violence has left doctors and students traumatised who have fled citing personal safety. 

The protesting junior doctors and students welcomed the court order on deploying CAPF. “But we have to address how the deployment will be implemented and what it would mean for practising doctors at the hospital and what security measures are being taken elsewhere,” a doctor said. He said security in hospitals extends beyond R.G. Kar. 

In its order, the apex court said, “The lack of institutional safety norms at medical establishments against both violence and sexual violence against medical professionals is a matter of serious concern... Preserving safe conditions of work is central to realising equality of opportunity to every working professional.”  

The Supreme Court constituted a 10-member task force to formulate a national protocol to ensure the safety and facilities of doctors. 

The women’s hostels on the college campus witnessed a mass exit of boarders following the mob attack. According to women medicos, the undergraduate women’s hostel housed over 160 students, but there are hardly seven to eight people inside the building now.

The students and doctors have not recovered from the trauma of losing a colleague to rape and murder inside the campus. The mob violence further aggravated their fears. A woman intern at R.G. Kar said she is concerned about her safety as all her classmates and juniors have left the campus due to family pressure.