RG Kar doctor murder case: Junior Doctors allege being lathi-charged by police during protest

Kolkata: During a recent rally to demand justice for the deceased PG trainee doctor who was allegedly brutally raped and murdered inside the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College Hospital, the agitating junior doctors alleged that the police lathi-charged a few of them although they were protesting peacefully. 

The rally was held from the SSKM Hospital in the city’s Bhowanipore area to Dharmatala where two of their colleagues were waiting near the road. While the two doctors were waiting for the junior doctors in Dharmatala, it was alleged that the police assaulted and beat the duo doctors on the road. 

Although the exact reason is unclear, the police personnel informed PTI that the demonstration disrupted the traffic movement in the city's heart. A video of the incident went viral on social media after BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared it.

Also read- ' Do not see any positive approach from State Government': West Bengal Junior Doctors Resume total 'cease work'

One of the junior doctors said “Two of our colleagues waiting near a road in Dharmatala for us were beaten up by the police. We do not know the reason. We were conducting a peaceful rally here and had permission to hold a press conference here. We protest this attitude of the policemen. Police have to apologise, else we will continue with our demonstration."

It had earlier been expected that the medics would announce ending their ‘cease work’ which began on October 1 in a press conference in Dharmatala where their rally would culminate.

The doctors had earlier gone on a complete ‘cease work’ for 42 days following the rape and murder of a fellow medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. After discussions with state officials, they ended their strike on September 21, resuming essential services. The medics, however, renewed their ‘cease work’ on October 1 after an attack on them by a patient’s family at the state-run College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital the previous week. 

“We are trying to talk to the doctors and see how the issue can be resolved,” a senior police officer told PTI when contacted.

Meanwhile, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared the video on social media. In a post on 'X', Malviya said "The situation in West Bengal is deeply troubling. The Mamata Banerjee-led WB Police brutally assaulted peacefully protesting Junior Doctors, who were seeking justice for the deceased doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. The PGT doctors were kicked around by men, who claimed to be Police but were not in uniform."

"The Junior Doctors have now issued a 24-hour ultimatum, for their demands to be met, failing which they will begin a hunger strike, unto death. Mamata Banerjee’s high-handedness will be held to account for any unfortunate incident that occurs during Durga Puja," he added.

Junior docs call off 'total cease work'

The agitating junior doctors on Friday evening called off their 'total cease work' at state-run medical colleges and hospitals but threatened to launch a hunger strike till death if their demands were not met by the West Bengal government within 24 hours.

"We are calling off our 'total cease work' and returning to duties. But we will continue our sit-in protest. We will give the state administration 24 hours to fulfil our demands or else we will start a hunger strike till death," an agitating doctor, Debasish Halder of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital told PTI.

Braving the incessant drizzle, junior doctors holding one big clock in their hands reiterated their demands including the directive to form a central inquiry committee for disciplinary proceedings against alleged perpetrators involved in "threat culture" in all medical colleges of West Bengal, among others.

Also read- Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Junior doctors continue cease work