Junior doctors sitting on protest asked Kolkata residents to switch off their lights for an hour at night and join them in forming the "human chain" as they continue their agitation against the RG Kar rape-murder case
Junior doctors sitting on protest over the rape and murder of a trainee medic at Kolkata’s RG Kar hospital, will be forming a “human chain” as part of their agitation from 9 pm to 10 pm on Wednesday (September 4). They have asked city residents to switch off their lights during this period and join them.
This comes a day after the Kolkata Police allowed the protesters to march closer to Lalbazar and send their representatives to meet top cop Vineet Kumar Goyal, whose resignation they have been demanding since September 2. The BJP has also announced plans to carry out a ‘chakka jam’ across the state, halting traffic movement for an hour.
In a significant development on Tuesday (September 3), the West Bengal government suspended RG Kar’s former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh following his arrest in connection with alleged financial corruption at the medical institution. The court remanded him to eight days in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), along with three other accused.
Here are the latest updates:
Junior doctors continue ceasework
The ceasework by junior doctors at state-run hospitals in West Bengal continued on Wednesday. Health services remained crippled at most medical facilities due to the ceasework, which has been underway for over three weeks now.
“Our demand for justice is still unfulfilled. The protests will continue till our sister gets justice and the culprits are brought to book,” one of the junior medics said, adding that Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal has not resigned, too, which was another demand of the agitating doctors.
The protesters have alleged inadequate steps by the police during its probe into the August 9 rape-murder of the young doctor, before the investigation was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court. “We believe that many people are being shielded in the case and the truth must come out,” another junior doctor at a state-run hospital told PTI.
MHA warns of contempt action against state government officials
The ministry of home affairs has filed an application before the Supreme Court in the RG Kar medical suo motu case. It said CISF personnel do not have proper accommodation and basic facilities. The ministry has warned that if these requests are not met, contempt action may be initiated against state government officials.
Doctors’ body seeks swift justice for victim
The All India Federation of Government Doctors’ Associations (AIFGDA) on Tuesday (September 3) demanded swift justice for the trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Addressing a press conference, Dr Subarna Goswami and Dr Praful Kumar, additional general secretaries, expressed their solidarity with the nationwide movement calling for accountability in the case.
The doctors’ body stressed on the urgency of the matter ahead of the Supreme Court hearing in the case on Thursday (September 5). It urged the judiciary to handle the case with sensitivity and promptness, noting the widespread public outrage over the incident, as per a statement. During the press conference, it also highlighted key points such as severity of crime against doctors.
Sandip Ghosh suspended after CBI arrest
The West Bengal health department suspended RG Kar’s former principal Sandip Ghosh on Tuesday, a day after the CBI arrested him for alleged financial misconduct. He was suspended 26 days after the body of the woman doctor was found inside the seminar hall of the state-run hospital on August 9.
“In view of the ongoing criminal investigation against Prof (Dr) Sandip Ghosh, ex-principal, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, he is placed under suspension… with immediate effect,” an order said.
