News18 speaks to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital ex-students and students: “A racket was being run…It was medical mafia raj here,” ex-students say, amid the row over the rape-murder of trainee doctor. Hostellers say they are still living in fear after the August 14 vandalism
From paying bribe to become an in-house staff at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to cancellation of registration for raising voice against any irregularity, ex-students are now speaking up about the alleged corruption and malpractices under Dr Sandip Ghosh, who is under the scanner in the wake of the rape-murder of a trainee doctor on August 9.
“A racket was being run at RG Kar…It was medical mafia raj here," ex-students tell News18.
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Dr Chandramouli Jha, an ex-student of RG Kar, who is now trying for PG from Kolkata, had protested against Dr Ghosh in 2021. “We had raised our voice against corruption and lack of proper hostel facilities. We went on a hunger strike, too. But our protest was nipped in the bud. Dr Ghosh got my registration cancelled. I had to move court to get the registration. There is a threat syndicate in RG Kar. If one wants to become in-house staff, they have to pay money to the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) or Trinamool Congress’s student wing. MLA Sudipto Roy is also a key player," alleged Jha.
Dr Mainak from the same batch, too, faced a similar problem. He also alleged that his registration was stopped after his protest.
Sources in the hospital alleged that Ghosh use to run his own racket, with a section of students working for him. “Even to speak to Dr Sandip Ghosh, we had to go through the TMC students’ wing,” alleged some doctors. From bio-waste trafficking to sale of corpses. Dr Ghosh is facing a range of allegations.
Financial irregularities at the hospital will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by Saturday morning, acting on the order of the Calcutta High Court. Doctors believe the financial irregularities are key and all those involved should be on the CBI radar.
STILL LIVING IN FEAR AFTER AUGUST 14 VIOLENCE: HOSTELLERS
The August 14 protest against the rape-murder took a violent turn with a mob vandalising the hospital premises. After the incident, several RG Kar hostellers left on August 15 morning. One such hosteller said she, too, had returned, and although back now, is still afraid.
“At least 80 per cent left the hospital hostel. Some are starting to return. We had a rally that night inside the hospital. We were attacked. While we hid inside the hostel, they were using foul language and threatening us. We spent that night in terror. Next day, I went back to my home in the district. Now I have come back, but there’s fear," she said.
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Another woman doctor told News18: “That night we had to hide under benches and in toilets. We did not go back, unlike many of us. It was horrible that night. We wanted our movement for justice to go on, which is why we stayed put, but a lot of people are not back. We are living in fear."
In the Supreme Court, too, during the hearing, a doctor stated that 70 health workers are feeling threatened. While the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been deployed, they remain unconvinced about their safety.
