Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Junior doctors continue cease work
Kolkata: The ongoing protest by doctors at government hospitals continued into its 26th day on Tuesday in West Bengal. The doctors have been boycotting outdoor patient departments, even following the recent arrest of former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh by the CBI’s anti-corruption unit.
According to a UNI report, The agitating doctors said Ghosh's arrest did not fulfil their demand for justice for their murdered colleague and reiterated the need to identify and arrest those involved in the crime. They also sought safety at workplace.
Also Read:Junior Doctors Protest at Lalbazar, Demand Resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner
Sources said on Tuesday that three other accused arrested by the CBI are Ghosh’s security guard Afsar Ali Khan and two hospital vendors – Biplav Singha and Sumon Hazra.
Additionally, junior doctors staged a demonstration at Lalbazar, demanding the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal. The protesters have been staging a sit-in at Pheare Lane since Monday afternoon, causing traffic disruptions in Central and North Kolkata. They allege that Goyal tampered with evidence related to the murder of a 31-year-old female doctor on August 9 and were involved in vandalism and demolition at RG Kar Hospital on August 14/15.
Anupam Chatterjee, a protesting doctor, said their sit-in would continue till the resignation of the police commissioner, news agency UNI reported.
The medics have erected a make-shift tent at the site to protect themselves from the scorching sun and arranged drinking water.
The medics said they wanted to give a memorandum to Goyal and sought permission for their 20-member delegation to meet him at the police headquarters.
The protesting doctors also demanded the removal of pickets at Phearse Lane that were preventing them from crossings over to Bentinck Street and BB Ganguly Street, about 100 metres east of the police headquarters.
Sources said R G Kar Hospital's former principal Ghosh was arrested on Monday evening by the CBI's anti-corruption unit after interrogating him at Nizam Palace over alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital since 2021.
The arrest was made following a Calcutta High Court order on August 23 after former superintendent Dr Akhtal Ali moved a petition demanding a probe by the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged financial scam.
The CBI is also probing the medic murder case since August 14 after the High Court transferred the case from Kolkata Police.
So far only one person, identified as Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer attached with Kolkata Police, has been arrested in the murder case.
The ruling Trinamool Congress legislators are expected to table on Tuesday a bill - Aparajita Mahila and Sishu (amendment) - in the state assembly to bring a stringent law to combat crime against women and children. The bill has a provision for capital punishment.
The Opposition BJP has issued a whip for its MLAs to be present on the floor of the Assembly.
