“We Will Not Be Intimidated…: BJP’s Agnimitra Paul After Kolkata Police Prohibits Gatherings Around RG Kar Medical College

Kolkata (West Bengal): After the Kolkata Police prohibited rallies, demonstrations, and the “unlawful assembly” of five or more persons around the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for seven days, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul on Sunday lambasted the Mamata government and said that the step would not be able to intimidate those who are seeking justice for the trainee doctor’s rape and murder.

On Saturday, Kolkata Police imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (formerly Section 144 of the CrPC), around the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for seven days.

Taking to X, Agnimitra Paul said, “Mamata Banerjee’s TMC government has crossed all boundaries with this blatant assault on democracy. By imposing restrictions on public gatherings and protests in Kolkata, she’s not just curbing our fundamental rights but also instilling fear to silence the truth. But Mamata Banerjee, let me make this clear: We will not be intimidated. If you think you can crush our spirit and prevent us from seeking justice, you are sorely mistaken.”

Paul hit out at CM Mamata Banerjee and alleged that she tried to cover the rape-murder by labelling it a suicide, but the truth was revealed.

“You (Mamata) first tried to cover it up by labelling it a suicide, but the truth couldn’t stay buried. Your Commissioner of Police, Vineet Goyal, has been your accomplice every step of the way, aiding in this shameful attempt to suppress the reality. And when the lies started unravelling, you resorted to offering money to the victim’s family, as if justice could be bought or silenced,” Agnimitra Paul said.

The BLP MLA further said that the police order would be challenged in the court.
“If you (Mamata) continue down this path of tyranny, we will revive the spirit of the Civil Disobedience Movement. We will peacefully defy these unjust orders and assert our right to protest. And if necessary, we will take our protests to every district across Bengal. We will challenge your actions in court, ensuring that justice prevails. The judiciary will hear our plea, and the people’s voice will not be silenced,” Agnimitra said.

She further added that the fight for justice will continue until the people’s voice is heard.
“You (Mamata) might think you can continue this vicious cycle of oppression, but know this–your time is running out. The people are waking up, and they will not tolerate this autocracy any longer. You cannot stop us, you cannot hide from the truth, and yes, you will have to resign. Your attempts to muzzle dissent will only make our resolve stronger. The fight for justice will continue until the people’s voice is heard loud and clear!” she added.

Earlier, in an order released on Saturday by the Commissioner of Police, Vineet Kumar Goyal, it was stated that rallies, meetings, processions, dharnas, demonstrations, and the unlawful assembly of five or more persons are prohibited in the specified area of Kolkata.
“…In exercise of the power conferred by Sub-Section (1) of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, read with Sub-Section (3) of the said Section, I, Vineet Kumar Goyal, Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, being an Executive Magistrate for the Metropolitan area of Kolkata as well as the district of South 24 Parganas (within the limits of the suburbs of Kolkata falling under Kolkata police jurisdiction), do hereby prohibit, for a period of seven (7) days from 18.08.2024 to 24.08.2024, or until further notice, any unlawful assembly of five (5) or more persons, carrying of lathis, any lethal or other dangerous weapons, or the commission of any act likely to cause a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity within the specified area in the town of Kolkata,” the order stated.

The imposition was made “in regard to inputs and information received from credible sources, indicating sufficient reasons for violent demonstrations, rallies, and meetings by a section of the public or an organisation, thereby causing a breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity, health or safety, danger to human life, and obstruction to doctors, nursing staff, medical staff, and lawfully employed persons in the said area,” the order stated.

On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, leading to nationwide strikes and protests by the medical fraternity.