City police commissioner Vineet Goyal on Sunday dismissed allegations that his force was trying to shield some people in connection with the rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

He said this was one among several rumours being circulated.

“Several types of rumours are making the rounds. (That) multiple people are involved; someone is being sheltered; three persons’ semen has been found — all types of stories are floating. These are all rumours, we have told them (medicos),” Goyal said after a meeting with junior doctors at RG Kar on Sunday evening.

He said the assistant commissioner of police who was in charge of the hospital’s security had been shifted out. Removal of the officer was one of the students’ demands.

Police sources identified the officer as Chandan Guha, assistant commissioner, north division.

Earlier in the day, Sanjay Vashisht, medical superintendent and vice-principal at
RG Kar, had been removed, a senior health department official said.

Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, a professor at the medical college, has been appointed in his place.

Goyal arrived at the hospital in the evening with senior officers — additional, joint and deputy commissioners — and met the agitating medicos.

“We have addressed all the queries (of the junior doctors). We feel they are satisfied. If they have any doubts, they can directly approach us anytime. This is not just applicable (to) this institute, but also (to) any other college,” Goyal said.

The junior doctors continued with their protests and cease-work. “Our demands have not been met yet. Our cease-work continues,” said Arif Ahmed Laskar, a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar.

“This is our appeal to the students. If they have any information about any person’s involvement, we will absolutely look at it from all perspectives. We have nothing to hide,” Goyal said.

He added that a toll-free number would be opened for medicos to share information with the police. The city police later launched the number (1800 345 5678).

Goyal said the police would “do everything” to investigate the case. “We will talk with all persons concerned. We will take opinion (from forensic experts)... regarding one person, more people, based on the injury marks on the victim and the injuries on the accused.”

Police sources said that after Goyal and other senior officers arrived at the police outpost in the hospital, the students — who were agitating outside — were called in.

“They asked us a lot of questions about the investigation. We told them we were carrying out a transparent investigation and there was no question of anyone being shielded,” a senior officer said.

The protesting junior doctors demanded to be shown the autopsy report and CCTV footage.

Asked about this, Goyal told reporters: “The report has been shared with the family.” On the CCTV footage, he said: “We can’t go against the Supreme Court order.”

One of the junior doctors who met Goyal said the commissioner had promised to show them the autopsy report and the CCTV footage. “But it can’t be shared with (copies cannot be given to) us, the commissioner said,” the junior doctor said.

The names and photographs of several junior doctors have been circulated across social media with the allegation that they have been “missing” since the rape and murder was reported.

Messages accused a hospital official of having issued a statement blaming the woman doctor for her death.

The police said all these were baseless rumours.