National News

TMC Goes The Dravidian Model Way As Kolkata Police Intimidate Netizens Speaking Out On RG Kar Medical College Rape And Murder Case

August 16, 2024
The Commune

The TMC government in West Bengal appears to be taking a page out of the DMK’s playbook by cracking down on dissent online. Similar to the Dravidian party’s tactics in Tamil Nadu, the West Bengal government uses their policemen to intimidate netizens who have spoken out against the horrific rape and murder of a medical student in Kolkata.

People living in Tamil Nadu know how TN police intimidate netizens for making critical comments about the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government or posting memes that espouse the same criticism. Read here for more on the cases filed in TN and elsewhere.

TMC-ruled West Bengal seems to be following the Dravidian Model of using their police force to intimidate its criticizing netizens in the wake of a horrific crime committed in the city. Kolkata Police was found intimidating netizens for speaking out on the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case.

Instances

A netizen named Debayan Sen claimed to reveal a cover-up involving a horrific incident at RG Kar Medical College in West Bengal, linked to a larger illegal organ trafficking, medicine smuggling, and sex and drug racket allegedly supported by political figures from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Debayan alleged that the victim discovered the illegality involving some hospital staff, an intern, and hospital authorities, including the principal. After the victim allegedly threatened to expose the operation, she was harassed for two months, leading to her eventual death, which was initially labelled as a suicide by the hospital principal.

Sen also alleged that the proceeds from these illegal activities were linked to TMC leaders, implicating high-level involvement. Sanjoy Roy is described as a scapegoat, with the real culprits allegedly being Arshean Alam, Shahbaz Khan, Golam Azam, and Subhadip Sinha Mahapatra, the son of TMC leader Soumen Mahapatra, who is reportedly now in hiding. Sen also accused the principal, police, and state government of orchestrating a cover-up, attempting to destroy evidence, and dismissing the case as a suicide.

He also stated that during the peaceful protest on 14 August 2024, TMC-hired goons allegedly infiltrated the crowd, vandalized the college to destroy evidence, and were allegedly aided by police. Tear gas was used against the peaceful protesters, and an internet blackout was imposed to allegedly suppress information about the incident.

Following this, Debayan received a notice u/s 168 BNSS from the Cyber Police of Kolkata for reporting on the Kolkata horror.

Another netizen with the handle “purpleready” recounted the troubling experience when police officers visited her parents’ home to intimidate her over a social media post she made about a student from Burdwan University. The police, acting on instructions from the Kolkata police, searched for her, causing distress to her family.

When they arrived, her brother contacted her, and the police questioned her about the post, asking if she had verified its credibility. She admitted to sharing the post based on initial reports and editing it after verification. The police requested that she delete the post and warned her against sharing unverified information in the future, threatening potential harm to her career. The incident left her family, particularly her mother and brother, deeply upset and ashamed, especially since the neighbours were aware of the police inquiry. She later deleted the post as requested by the police.

WB Police Intimidate Shefali Vaidya

In an X post, Temple activist and influencer Shefali Vaidya posed questions about the TMC government’s lack of action in ensuring speedy justice, for which the Kolkata Police have threatened to take down the post.

She shared on X an image card which alleged that the sons of two TMC ministers were the suspects in the rape and murder case. She asked if the information was true while questioning if the police under the Mamata government were hurriedly trying to portray the incident as a suicide by destroying evidence.

“You are hereby directed to delete the above-mentioned post and also refrain from making such acts failing which you will be liable for strict penal action under the relevant provision of law.“, the notice by Kolkata Police read.

Following this, Shefali Vaidya took to her social media, fearing threats of harassment and attempts to muzzle her voice.

“So I got this threatening letter from Kolkata Police for merely asking a few questions and for exercising my right of free speech. This is a clear case of @mamataofficial administration silencing the voice of private citizens using the power of Kolkata Police.”, she said.

Shefali pointed out that she was just a private citizen disgusted by the incident, not a politician.

“As a woman and mother, I fear for my safety. We all know what the Kolkata Police can do, and we all know what happens to women who dare to speak against @mamataofficial in West Bengal. They are either subjected to violence or intimidation like the #SandeshkhaliHorror victims or forced to leave the state like @UnSubtleDesi [OpIndia Editor Nupur Sharma].“, Shefali said.

“I am just an ordinary citizen trying to do the right thing. I am not a member of any political party, nor do I have an organisation to back me up. And I don’t have the wherewithal or the energy to fight the intimidation tactics of a state administration where the police act like the collection agents of a regime. So yes, I will delete the post as Kolkata Police asked me to do as advised by my lawyer. I am doing so not because I think I was wrong in asking questions, but after what happened to #moumitadebnath, I fear for my safety and my life. You won Kolkata Police in silencing the voice of a common citizen. Congratulations. Huge achievement. Now, if only you guys showed the same zeal in protecting the women of West Bengal, #moumitadebnath would STILL BE ALIVE!” she said.

Shefali Vaidya also pointed out that she had said nothing wrong apart from what other institutions have asked, which is available in the public domain.

After making a (now deleted) post on X on the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, a netizen with the handle “Lady Khabri” also received a notice from Kolkata Police.

Another netizen with the handle name “Janu” posted a video detailing the horrific incident.

As expected, Kolkata Cyber Police issued a notice against her.

A netizen named Sunanda Roy also faced the same after her video on the details of the rape and murder case was shared widely.

TN Police seems to have found a buddy to intimidate and censor netizens’ voices critical of the ruling government or speaking the truth.

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