Threat culture row: RG Kar protesting doctors shout slogans as only 12 out of 51 appear before Inquiry Committee

Kolkata: After a long 42-days cease work in protest against the brutal alleged rape and murder of a PG trainee at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and their security-related demands which ended partially a few days ago, the junior doctors have once again voiced their concerns. They have expressed dissatisfaction over the presence of only 12 doctors, house staff, and interns out of a total of 51 who appeared before an inquiry committee investigating allegations of a threat culture.

The junior doctors at the medical college who returned to their duties in emergency and essential services at state-run hospitals on September 21 after partially lifting their cease work have been reported to held a rally by chanting slogans like "down with threat culture" and "down with north Bengal lobby," expressing their anger and demanding accountability over the small number of doctors appearing before the committee. 

Also read- Threat Culture Allegations: Only 8 out of 51 doctors, students appear before RG Kar Hospital inquiry committee

Medical Dialogues recently reported that only 8 doctors appeared before the inquiry committee even though the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital authorities issued a notice summoning 51 doctors, house staff and interns over threat culture allegations by juniors. This time on Wednesday 12 such notified medical personnel appeared which caused major outrage among the junior doctors. 

Among those summoned was also senior PGT medic Ashis Pandey, belonging to the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) and known to have ties with Sandip Ghosh, the former principal currently in CBI custody, reports PTI.

During the heating of the 12, the protesting junior doctors occupied the area outside the hospital superintendent’s office. When the 12 doctors were leaving the campus, the protesting junior doctors raised slogans like "down with threat culture" and "down with north Bengal lobby." Authorities have restricted their access to the campus due to their alleged connections with Ghosh, who has been linked to several controversies in the hospital's administration.

“Justice for RG Kar today is not only the movement of RG Kar Medical College or only junior doctors. This movement has become a general mass-citizen movement. The protesting doctors feel that this movement could not have progressed without the contribution of the common people of Bengal,” Debashish Haldar, one of the leaders of West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), told media persons.

As per the Indian Express news report, the association disclosed that they found out in a meeting with representatives from 26 state-run and private medical colleges that fake cases have been labelled against them who expressed solidarity with their movement and joined democratic protests.

Dr Aniket Mahato, one of the protesting junior doctors said, “The administration is apparently pursuing a vindictive attitude even after we showed intention and flexibility to end the deadlock. Over one month has passed but there is not much demonstrative evidence of the probe into our colleague sister’s rape and murder moving at the desired pace."

The R G Kar Medical College and Hospital authorities summoned 51 doctors, house staff and interns from several departments and professors to appear before the Enquiry Committee on September 11 regarding allegations of threat culture against the juniors.

These medical professionals are accused of engaging in behaviour that promotes a culture of intimidation, endangering the democratic atmosphere of the institution. As a result, they were sent notices to present themselves to defend their innocence. Meanwhile, the authorities have also prohibited the 51 doctors from accessing the campus and have restricted their involvement in college activities.

It has been alleged that most of these doctors had connections and were close associates of former principal of R G Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh who is a prime suspect in the rape and murder case that took place on August 9.

The list of those summoned included- 2 senior resident doctors, 1 research scientist, 20 house staff, 11 interns and 17 professors.

Also read- Protesting Junior doctors to end sit-in, resume emergency services from September 21