Senior doctors Dr. Punya Brata Gun and Dr. Tamonas Chaudhuri, who were issued summons over a bicycle protest rally demanding justice for the R.G. Kar victim, appeared at the Thakurpukur police station in Kolkata on Monday.

Multiple protest rallies were organised on August 8 and 9 by activists and civil society groups to mark one year of the rape and murder of the doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Dr. Gun and Dr. Chaudhuri are associated with Abhaya Mancha, a civil society group formed to seek justice for the victim. On August 8, Abhaya Mancha had called for a bicycle rally from Thakurpukur to College Street.

“The summons were issued on August 9 regarding restrictions on cycle movement on the National Highway at a particular time. Today [Monday], my clients appeared before the investigating officers and were asked questions such as their place of residence. My clients said they have been on the streets for a year demanding justice for the R.G. Kar victim. Instead of nabbing the real culprits, the police are sending summons to protesters,” advocate Shamim Ahmed, who is representing the two doctors, told The Hindu.

In the summons sent by the police, it was mentioned that it pertains to an investigation of a case lodged against them on August 8 under multiple sections of the BNS, including 285 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation), 235 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), and 3(5) (committing a crime together with a shared intention). Section 8B of the National Highway Act (punishment for mischief by injury to NH) was also mentioned.

‘Intimidation bid’

“We do not know why we have been summoned, but it is likely because we are at the forefront of the protests. This is probably an attempt to intimidate other protesters,” Dr. Gun told mediapersons before entering the police station.

Dr. Chaudhuri said during the bicycle rally, protesters and the police “exercised mutual cooperation and it concluded smoothly and successfully”.