West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has finally announced drastic changes in the Kolkata Police and state health departments, following widespread protests. Banerjee decided to remove Vineet Goyal from his position as Kolkata Police Commissioner besides transferring several high-ranking officials from their posts in both the police and health sectors. This was due to a list of demands made by junior doctors and growing public unrest related to a recent tragic incident.

Junior Doctors’ Demands
Protests erupted following the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Banerjee accepted most of the five-point charter of the demands of the junior doctors in demanding justice, including among other demands, removing key officials such as the Director of Medical Education (DME) and the Director of Health Services (DHS). In addition, the Deputy Commissioner (North Division), who was also accused of having offered bribes connected with the case, was relieved of office.

Banerjee promised that a fresh police commissioner would be appointed as soon as a hearing scheduled in the Supreme Court in the matter took place. Her statement was delivered late at night as she called up television channels late at night after meeting the protesting doctors in her Kalighat residence in Kolkata, just hours before the scheduled Supreme Court hearing.

Controversies And Criticisms
The biggest issue has been the decision to sack Vineet Goyal. The protesters as well as the opposition parties had always criticized the way Goyal handled the August 14 incident at RG Kar Medical College, wherein there was vandalism amid a protest march. Junior doctors were complaining about his mismanagement of the situation and failure on his part to address procedural lapses that had heightened the public furor and created the storm.

Goyal lately blamed rumors and a media campaign for eroding trust in the police, and he defended the handling of the rape and murder case by the police. His remarks have further increased dissatisfaction with his leadership.

Political Backlash And Government Response
The backlash came after Goyal handled recent events. Critics say that as in the case of West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, Goyal is seen to be loyal to Mamata Banerjee rather than listening to public concerns. When Goyal asked to quit, he could not get an answer from Banerjee, and he had to be removed from the position.

Vineet Goyal Profile
Vineet Goyal, who resigned as Kolkata Police Commissioner. Goyal took charge in December 2021, after Soumen Mitra. Goyal is an IPS officer of the 1994 batch. He is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and IIT Kanpur. He has served as Deputy Commissioner for the Eastern Suburban Division and in the Special Branch and Headquarters in the Kolkata Police. Goyal also served stints as Joint Commissioner for the Special Task Force and Traffic as well as Additional Commissioner of Police.

He has been rewarded with various awards including the Police Medal for Gallantry twice, the Police Medal for Meritorious Service, and the Chief Minister’s Medal for Outstanding Service.