Kolkata: The junior doctors of Bengal, who had been on a cease-work agitation for over 45 days to demand justice for the RG Kar rape-murder victim, called off their massive protest on Thursday, but with a caveat. They said they would join work from Saturday. However, they will not join OPD services or attend elected operations until they are assured of the state government’s commitment to the safety and security of doctor. They will end the cease-work stir by holding a mega torch vigil on Friday from Swasthya Bhawan—their current protest site—in Salt Lake to the CGO complex that houses the CBI office in Kolkata.
‘People stood by us, time to help them during floods but we aren’t weakened’
They made this announcement came after the Mamata Banerjee-led government in the state gave in to most of their demands. The doctors claimed that they were withdrawing the protest to help people in flood-hit south Bengal districts.
“People have stood by us and supported our protest. Now, it is our turn to help them when health services have become a priority in the flood-affected areas. But, no one should think that our determination to seek justice for Abhaya has weakened,” one of the agitating doctors told reporters, while making the announcement.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | Dr Aqeeb says, "On the 41st day of the protest, West Bengal Junior Doctors Front wants to say that we achieved a lot during our agitation, but many things remain unachieved… We made the Kolkata Commissioner of Police resign and the DME, DHS… https://t.co/ESVrACsWF1 pic.twitter.com/doJGiK1Qq3
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2024
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had been on a visit to the flood-hit areas since Thursday. Thus, the doctors had their last meeting with the Chief Secretary, who apparently accepted their demands and suggestions regarding security.
Last meeting with Chief Secretary: Which demands were accepted?
The Chief Secretary had also written to the Principal Secretary, giving detailed instructions to ensure safety of doctors, including ensuring adequate availability of on-duty rooms, washrooms, CCTVs, deployment of police and security personnel—comprising women force as well—mobile police teams for surveillance at night, central helpline and panic buttons and alarms. The doctors, however, claimed that not all their demands were fulfilled, which included the resignation of Health Secretary. The junior doctor also mentioned that they would continue their stir on the respective campuses of their medical colleges and continue to demand for their colleague, a 31-year-old trainee doctor whose semi-nude body was recovered from the seminar room of state-run RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. So far, three persons have been arrested in the case.
The case probe so far
Civic volunteer, Sanjay Ray, was arrested by the Kolkata Police for the heinous crime and later handed over to the CBI, which took over the case. Later, the CBI arrested ex-RG Kar Principal Sandip Ghosh and former Officer-In-Charge of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mandal, for alleged tampering with evidence in the case.
