The city police have arrested 25 people in connection with the vandalism at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital early on Thursday. One of them has been identified as Soumik Das.
A video has emerged that shows Das, 24, speaking some time before his arrest. Das, who said he works at a gym in Dum Dum’s Motijheel, is heard admitting to the crime. “I went to the rally. I did the vandalism out of emotion. What I did was wrong,” he said.
Das is a resident of 200 East Sinthi Bye Lane at Maidan Pally in Nagerbazar.
He is heard saying in the video the following:
Q: Was there any provocation?
A: No. I went there on my own.
Q: You are not a doctor.
A: I went because everyone else was going.
Q: Who were going?
A: Everyone. Many people I know went. Many who go to the same gym where I work also went.
Q: Where do they stay?
A: Some stay in Nagerbazar, some in Kundu Bagan. One person named Bithi-da, from Kundu Bagan, has been held. He goes to the same gym.
Q: You vandalised government property. You were using abusive language. These have been captured on CCTV.
A: It was a mistake. I did it out of emotion.
Q: You had a steel rod in your hands that you used during the vandalism.
A: A man gave me the rod. He was standing in front of me.
Q: Didn’t the police resist you?
A: Yes, we came out when they resisted.
Q: How many of you went?
A: I was alone. I went alone from here.
Q: Why did you go alone? Who told you to go?
A: There were discussions in the gym to have a rally. They went from Kaikhali. I could not go from Kaikhali, that is why I went from here.
Q: Did all of them target to vandalise RG Kar?
A: No. When I saw what was happening, I joined. It was wrong.
Q: Do you know the others who vandalised the hospital?
A: I know many of them by face, but I do not know where they live.
Q: Did anyone instigate you?
A: No
Q: Are all of them from thegym?
A: No.
Q: How did you enter thehospital?
A: When everyone went in. I went inside in a group.
Q: You vandalised theemergency?
A: I smashed the front door. I did not damage anything else.
Q: There is footage of you smashing stuff. Why? You are not a doctor?
A: Only for the woman. For nothing else, sir.
Q: Did the police contactyou?
A: They called yesterday. I had gone somewhere on an invitation.... I came back from Krishnagar this morning.
Q: From where did the police contact you?
A: My elder brother called me yesterday and said that men from Kolkata Police came to look for me. They asked me to come near the gym. I was then going to Krishnagar from Dum Dum. I came back this morning.
