Kolkata protests Highlights: Junior doctors’ stir over R.G. Kar hospital incident to continue despite SC direction

The R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital has issued a notice to 51 doctors for promoting a culture of intimidation, endangering the democratic atmosphere of the institution. According to the notice, they have been asked to appear before the enquiry committee on Wednesday (September 11, 2024) to prove their innocence.

The Special Council Committee of the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital has also restricted access to the institution’s campus and participation in college activities for those 51 doctors unless summoned by the enquiry committee.

The list includes senior residents, house staff, interns and professors.

- PTI

A month after the Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder, several aspects of the case remain murky. Recent allegations and findings have mired the case in a complicated web of conspiracy and crime involving the police and top-level hospital staff. These include crimes of financial irregularities, evidence tampering, hush money and more.

Click here to see a timeline of how the case has evolved over the past weeks.

The deceased Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College trainee doctor’s mother responded to CM Mamata Banerjee, saying her request to drop the protests and join the puja festivities seemed inhuman to her on Tuesday (September 10, 2024). Speaking to ANI, the mother said, “Durga Puja is celebrated in my house too; my daughter used to handle it herself. But Durga Puja will never be celebrated in my house again. The light in my home is out. How can I ask people to return to the festival?”

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said questions were raised in the court about at least a 14-hour delay in registering the First Information Report (FIR). He said in heinous crimes, it is the responsibility of the police to lodge an FIR instantly, but the police made an entry of “unnatural death”. He also accused Ms. Banerjee of failing her responsibility and demanded her resignation for a fair probe.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal had offered to resign from his post, as the protesting resident doctors have been demanding his resignation. However, CM Mamata Banerjee said an expert who is aware of the law-and-order situation during Durga Puja festivities should be in charge.

She even suggested that “people could wait for a few days”. 

Thousands of people have been protesting in the streets and demanding safety for women at the workplace. Community Durga Puja clubs recently refused the honorarium offered by the State government. However, the Chief Minister said that more clubs have been approaching the Government for funds to organise Durga Puja.

“If there are protests every day, people get disturbed at night. One month has passed, I will appeal to people to return to (Durga) Puja festivities,” she said.