Kolkata: An on-duty medical officer of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) was arrested during the ‘Durga Puja Carnival’ organised by the West Bengal government on Tuesday for allegedly wearing a T-shirt and badge with a message in solidarity with the protesting doctors over the RG Kar college and hospital rape-murder incident.
Dr Tapabrata Roy, who was part of the KMC medical team deployed for the event, claimed that he was detained from Red Road by the police. Following his release, Roy, as per PTI, said, “I was not told by the police where they were taking me after I was called by them while I was performing my duty on the Red Road. They clicked several photos of me. I had shown them my official duty slip, posting me on the Red Road.”
Related News |
As the news about his arrest spread, a large group of people, including fellow doctors, reached the Maidan police station and demanded his immediate release. Seeing the growing agitation and pressure, the police released him on a “personal bond.”
Roy, who wore a black t-shirt with the message “sirdara bikri nei” (spine not for sale), said, “I was released on a personal bond.” His badge read, “protiki anoshon” (symbolic hunger strike), in solidarity with the junior doctors who have been on a hunger strike unto death for the last 11 days.
Related News |
‘No Legal Value’: West Bengal Government On Mass Resignation Of Senior Doctors Against RG Kar Horror
A police officer told PTI that it was a “preventive arrest,” without explaining anything further.
Roy was posted in KMC’s Ward 123, comprising the Barisha area in southwest Kolkata. The protest that began after the rape-murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital on August 9 got further fuelled after this incident.
(With PTI inputs)