The father of the victim in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital case has alleged that his wife, who was injured during a protest march on Saturday, was denied admission to a private hospital due to pressure from the state government. The mother of the victim reportedly sustained injuries to her forehead, hands, and back after being allegedly roughed up by female police personnel.
According to a PTI report, the victim’s mother underwent a CT scan and other diagnostic tests on Saturday evening to assess her injuries. Her husband claims a doctor initially recommended that she be admitted for at least two days for treatment. However, he alleges that the hospital’s attitude changed suddenly after the doctor’s departure. “They started dilly-dallying. Then they told me that my wife could not be admitted as there was some pressure on them from the state government,” he was quoted as saying.
When he later contacted the doctor, the victim’s father said the doctor was unable to discuss the admission in detail but assured him that the prescribed medication would be sufficient for healing. On Sunday afternoon, after being allowed an overnight stay, the mother was “discharged” by hospital authorities.
The protest march on Saturday was organized to mark the one-year anniversary of the alleged rape and murder of their daughter at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The mother claims the police assault occurred at the Park Street crossing, where protesters were trying to breach barricades to march towards the state secretariat, Nabanna. She alleged that police pinned her to the ground, broke her “shankha” (a traditional conch shell bangle), and that she sustained a forehead injury. She claims four to five female police personnel were involved in the assault.
The police have denied using any force on the victim’s parents. The father also alleged that police had attempted to prevent the family from joining the protest march, despite having court permission for a peaceful rally.