After a prolonged meeting with protesting doctors, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday night the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, along with the director of health services and the director of medical education. This decision was taken to address the demands of the junior doctors, who had been protesting for over a month following the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
Resignation in Response to Doctor’s Demands
During the meeting at her residence, Banerjee explained that Goyal had volunteered to step down, citing the allegations against the Kolkata Police. “In response to the demands of the junior doctors, Vineet Goyal himself said he is ready to resign,” the Chief Minister stated. The name of Goyal’s replacement will be revealed after 4 PM on Tuesday.
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Who is Vineet Goyal?
Vineet Goyal, a senior IPS officer from the 1994 batch, became Kolkata’s Police Commissioner in December 2021, succeeding Soumen Mitra. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and IIT Kanpur, Goyal has held various key roles within the Kolkata Police, including Deputy Commissioner for the eastern suburban division, Special Branch, and Headquarters. He has even served as Joint Commissioner for the Special Task Force and Traffic, as well as ACP. Goyal is a decorated officer, having received two police medals for gallantry, a medal for meritorious service, and the Chief Minister’s medal for outstanding service.
Allegations Against Goyal
Goyal came under fire for his handling of the aftermath of the August 14 vandalism at RG Kar Hospital, where a protest by junior doctors turned violent. The doctors accused him of mismanaging the situation and tampering with evidence related to the crime. Protesters demanded his resignation following the alleged missteps.
Goyal Defends His Actions
In his defense, Goyal stated on August 15 that false information spread on social media had eroded public trust in the police. He maintained that the police did their best to handle the situation, though they were initially unprepared for the violence at RG Kar Hospital. Goyal added that the police had handed over all evidence, including the videographed post-mortem, to the CBI, which is now leading the investigation. He assured the public that the police had been fully transparent and were not protecting anyone involved in the crime.
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