While social media played a crucial role in the August 14 ‘Reclaim The Night’ stir in the wake of the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, bringing out women to express their shock over the incident, it also spread misinformation related to the case, causing unrest.
Here are some of the wild theories and rumours that came up on social media, which were later debunked by the authorities.
Suicide: Several social media posts claimed that the police had initially termed the woman’s death as suicide, increasing anger against the police. Later, the woman’s parents said that the hospital authorities, and not the police, had told them that the doctor had died by suicide.
150 gm semen theory: The social media was abuzz with the gang rape theory and claims that 150 gm semen was found in the woman’s body. While the gang rape claim is under investigation, the post-mortem report nowhere mentioned 150 gm semen. Sources who saw the report told News18 that it only mentioned a “white thick viscous liquid” in the cervical canal.
Crime scene, construction to destruction: Several WhatsApp groups people started to share that construction work has started at the crime scene. This was misinformation. Not only this, the day the goons vandalised RG Kar hospital, they could not reach seminar hall where the crime took place. Some people had claimed on social media that the attack took place at the crime scene. The Kolkata Police negated it in a post on X.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) meanwhile said in court that they took over the investigation after five days and the crime scene has been altered.
Pelvic bone broken: Another social media claim was that the woman’s pelvic bone was fractured. As per News18 sources, the post-mortem report does not mention any fracture.
CBI letter: A fake letter claiming that the CBI has written to the higher authorities that they want to withdraw themselves from investigation owing to the manipulation was floating on social media. The CBI posted on X, calling it fake.
Sandip Ghosh’s posting: Under pressure, former principal of RG Kar Hospital Dr Sandip Ghosh was finally removed from the Calcutta National Medical College. News started floating that he has been given the posting of Officer On Special Duty. This was negated by the Health Secretary.
Widespread circulation of the victim’s photograph and name, which is an offence, too, also took place, with even the courts asking the authorities to take action.
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