Page 3 - Doctors Protests

RG Kar impasse: Another doctor hospitalised, rest continue fast-unto-death

Another agitating junior doctor, who has been on fast-unto-death since October 5, was on Sunday night rushed to a hospital after his health deteriorated, an official at the medical establishment said. Pulastha Acharya of the NRS Medical College and Hospital was taken to the hospital after he complained of severe stomach pain, he said. With Acharya, the total number of junior doctors who have been hospitalised in the course of their fasting protest reached four. Aniket Mahato of RG Kar Medical and Hospital, Anustup Majumdar of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, and Alok Verma of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital were needed medical care earlier after a deterioration in their health. "Pulastha is in the CCU and his parameters have deteriorated. We have formed a medical board to treat him," a senior doctor of the NRS Medical College and Hospital told PTI. At the beginning, 11 junior doctors were on a fast-unto-death demanding justice for the a woman medic of the RG Kar ..

Mob beats up man in Kolkata hospital compound, docs raise security concern

A group of people assaulted a youth injuring him after entering the trauma care department of state-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata on Sunday, officials said. The incident came when a group of junior doctors were observing fast unto death nearby to press for their 10-point charter of demands including justice for the RG Kar hospital victim and stronger security measures in state-run medical facilities. An SSKM Hospital official said the youth, who was accompanying his friends to the trauma care centre, was thrashed by around 15 men leaving him injured. The attackers probably parked their vehicles outside the major referral hospital. A Kolkata Police officer said there were reports that the youth was part of a gang which had clashed with a rival faction in a nearby area earlier in the day. While members of one group came inside the hospital for treatment, the other one reached the facility and beat him up severely, he said. "We are checking CCTV footage of the area to identify the ..

RG Kar case: Junior doctors' hunger strike enters 9th day in West Bengal

The hunger strike by junior doctors of West Bengal to press for their demands following the RG Kar hospital incident entered the ninth day on Sunday, even as their health parameters continue to decline. Three of the junior doctors who were observing fast unto death' in Kolkata and Siliguri have so far been hospitalised after their condition deteriorated. "Their conditions are worsening but the state administration remains unmoved, a leader of the agitating Junior Doctors Forum said. The agitators have been demanding justice for the RG Kar hospital victim, immediate removal of Health Secretary N S Nigam, workplace security and other measures. The doctors have urged people to observe "Arandhan" (no cooking) on Sunday to show solidarity and support for their cause. A large number of people visited the venue of the hunger strike during the past few days when the Durga Puja festivities were on. The hunger strike followed nearly 50 days of cease work' in two phases. Their agitation beg

WB docs resign en masse, call for partial cease-work, march to CBI office

The West Bengal government on Saturday said the mass resignation of doctors of state-run hospitals is not valid and it must be submitted individually according to service rules. Several doctors from state-run hospitals have submitted collectively signed "resignation" letters to the government seeking justice for the post-graduate trainee who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and in support of junior medics on a fast-unto-death to press for their demands. "Unless an employee sends in his/her resignation personally to the employer as per service rules, it is not a resignation letter," Alapan Bandyopadhyay, chief advisor to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, told reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna here. He clarified that the letters sent by the doctors were merely collective signatures without addressing specific issues. Bandyopadhyay emphasised the government's intention to clarify the situation amidst confusion regarding the ma

RG Kar medic death: Protestors march to CBI office demanding speedy justice

Hundreds of protestors, comprising doctors, lawyers and members of civil society on Saturday led a march to the CBI office in the CGO complex in Salt Lake demanding fair and speedy justice for the gruesome murder and rape of a woman doctor of the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. Originating from the Karunamoyee area in Salt Lake, the protestors marched towards the CGO complex located a few kilometres away shouting slogans like "We want justice". They also expressed 'awe' at the CBI as the charge sheet of the central investigating body practically affirming the findings of the Kolkata Police probe which nailed one Sanjoy Roy as the sole culprit, now under custody. "We are surprised how the CBI can endorse the probe of the Kolkata Police in its charge sheet submitted a few days back. This to our mind lacks transparency and those others behind this cruelty should be exposed", one of the protestors said. The police had put up barricades on the roads approaching the CBI .

RG Kar horror: Doc's hunger strike reaches Day 6, one in critical condition

Junior doctors agitating over the rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar hospital continued their fast unto death for the sixth day on Friday, even as the condition of one of the medics on hunger strike, who was hospitalised, remained "critical", health officials said. Aniket Mahato was admitted to the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday night after his health condition deteriorated due to continuous fasting since Sunday. A five-member medical board was constituted to oversee the treatment of Mahato, the health officials said. "He was brought to the hospital in an unconscious condition. His condition is critical. He has been provided with oxygen and other necessary treatment for a patient who has not consumed water for the past few days. His condition is quite unstable," Dr (Prof) Soma Mukhopadhyay, CCU in charge of the hospital, told PTI. "We hope that he will improve in the next few days. We have formed a five-member team," she said. Meanwhile, th

RG Kar victim's parents protest, Aparna Sen urges CM to visit medics

Parents of the RG Kar hospital victim demonstrated in front of their residence in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district demanding justice for their deceased daughter on Wednesday, two months after they lost her. The 31-year-old post-graduate trainee, who was on duty, was allegedly raped and murdered in the state-run medical college on August 9, triggering a nationwide outrage. The parents said that they would continue their demonstration till Mahadasami, the last day of the Durga Puja festival, on Saturday. "We do not have our Durga with me. I had never thought of seeing this day even in my nightmare. We used to have Durga Pujas in my home, but now we are sitting here after our Durga left us. We will sit here till Dashami," her father said. He added that they would not allow any political figure at their demonstration. We haven't invited anyone, but anyone who wants to join is welcome. However, they must not take the stage as we want to avoid any political influences," he said.

RG Kar: Agitating docs 'picked up' by police while distributing leaflets

Police on Wednesday evening "picked up" around nine junior doctors from a popular Durga Puja marquee in south Kolkata, where the medics were distributing leaflets regarding their ongoing protests demanding justice for the RG Kar hospital victim, an officer said. The junior doctors were brought to the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar from the Tridhara Sammilani Puja at Deshapriya Park, they said. Following the development, several other medics, protesting near Dharmatala, where seven doctors are on a fast-unto-death, started a rally towards Lalbazar when they were stopped by police on Bentinck Street. The agitators sat on the road and started a demonstration, demanding the unconditional immediate release of their colleagues. "We were not told by the police why they had brought our colleagues to Lalbazar. This is nothing but atrocity. We will not leave unless our friends are released," one of the junior doctors said. Before reaching Deshapriya Park, the agitating medics had .

RG Kar case: Delhi doctors join Bengal colleagues with hunger strike, march

Doctors at Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi on Wednesday began a one-day hunger strike to show solidarity with junior doctors in West Bengal who are protesting the brutal rape and murder of a female medic. Doctors at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital also joined in on Wednesday, wearing black ribbons as a symbol of solidarity and remembrance for their murdered colleague, while the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of AIIMS-Delhi announced a candle march scheduled for 6 pm at JLN Stadium. Aparna Setia, president of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) RDA, said doctors are holding a symbolic hunger strike during working hours from 9 am to 4 pm on Wednesday. "During this period, we will abstain from eating or drinking to express our support for the junior doctors in West Bengal who have been on a hunger strike," Setia told PTI. The MAMC is also organising various activities in support of the doctors' cause. The GTB doctors, in a statement, said the black ribbons they wore signif

RG Kar doctors' mass resignations 'symbolic', no impact on patient care yet

The mass resignation of 54 senior doctors from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday hasn't affected healthcare services in the facility as medics continue to treat patients. The outpatient and inpatient departments remained fully operational, with doctors actively providing care, eyewitnesses said. Dr. Sunit Hazra, an orthopedic surgeon, explained that the resignations were intended to exert pressure the state government, which has remained silent during the ongoing hunger strike by junior doctors. "Our resignation is symbolic, aimed at prompting the government to engage in discussions," he said. The doctors who tendered resignations include specialists from various fields, such as cardiology, orthopedics, and pediatrics, as well as faculty from departments like radiotherapy and general medicine. Dr. Hazra emphasised that the resignations are not intended to disrupt patient care and that they would continue their duties. The collective resignation letter was sent to the

50 senior doctors resign from RG Kar Medical College amid protests

Trainee doctor's death sparks further outrage at RG Kar Medical College as administration and authorities fail to act on junior doctors' demands to make the campus safer

RG Kar case: Junior doctors continue fast-unto-death, demand justice

Agitating junior doctors in West Bengal continued their fast-unto-death for the third consecutive day on Monday, demanding justice for the rape and murder of a woman medic of the RG Kar hospital and workplace safety even as the state government remained silent to address their issues. Six junior medics have been on the fast-onto-death since Saturday evening and later one more joined them. "Our fast-unto-death protest is on. We have not received any message from the state government. We will continue this until all our demands are met. No external pressure will be able to move us from our path of protest seeking justice for our deceased sister... It's now or never," Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor, told PTI. Mahato of RG Kar hospital joined Snigdha Hazra, Tanaya Panja and Anustup Mukhopadhyay of Kolkata medical college, Arnab Mukhopadhyay of SSKM hospital, Pulastha Acharya of NRS medical college and Sayantani Ghosh Hazra of KPC medical college for the fast-unto-death protest. The jun

RG Kar case: Aiims Delhi doctors to hold candle march on October 9

As per the release, the candle march is scheduled to start from JLN Auditorium in Delhi at around 6 pm on October 9

Doctors issue 24-hour ultimatum over medic's murder, threaten hunger strike

Junior doctors protesting the recent rape and murder incident at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital on Friday issued the state government a 24-hour ultimatum to meet their demands, warning that they will begin an indefinite hunger strike if unmet.The protest took place at Esplanade, where a junior doctor, Parichay Panda, said, "Our demand is simple. We've given the government time to improve the safety and security of hospitals. However, the government has failed to do so. They even admitted before the Supreme Court that only a few measures have been implemented."Panda further noted that the government is unwilling to engage in discussions."If our demands are not fulfilled within 24 hours, we will begin an indefinite hunger strike tomorrow. Some of us will remain here, while others will continue serving the people of West Bengal," he added.On Wednesday, undergraduate and postgraduate students, junior doctors, and interns from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri .

Doctor shot dead by two minors in Delhi hospital; accused came as patients

The absconding accused came for treatment to get dressed for an injury at the three-bed Nima Hospital in Kalindi Kunj. There, they shot the doctor in his cabin and fled the crime scene

RG Kar case: Healthcare services affected in WB as medics resume cease work

Healthcare services were affected in West Bengal as junior doctors continued their cease work on Wednesday over a host of demands, including proper security at state-run hospitals in the wake of the rape and murder and of their colleague. The junior doctors went on to cease work after the body of their colleague was found at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. They partially returned to work on September 21 after 42 days, resuming essential services after the government promised to address most of their concerns. However, alleging that the government did not fulfil its promises, the doctors went on to cease work on Tuesday. "The cease work is going on as of now. However, there is a possibility of reconsidering the complete cease work as a section of senior doctors has different opinions about it. We will hold meetings with all stakeholders to decide the way forward as we too don't want to stay away from work unless the situation compels us," Subhendu Mallick, one of

RG Kar case: CBI grills Sandip Ghosh, police officer Abhijit Mondal

The CBI on Tuesday grilled Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the RG Kar hospital, and suspended police officer Abhijit Mondal at a correctional home here in connection with its probe into the alleged rape-murder of a doctor at the health facility, an official said. The sleuths of the central agency interrogated Ghosh and Mondal at the Presidency Correctional Home where the two have been lodged, he said. They were asked questions, first separately and then together, the central agency official said. "The two were questioned by our officers regarding the woman medic murder case. We have recorded their versions. The interrogation continued till late on Tuesday," he said. A Kolkata court on Monday extended the judicial custody of the former principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and the suspended police officer till October 4 in connection with the case. The court also asked the CBI, which is investigating the case, to interrogate Ghosh and Mondal, the suspended ...

Kolkata RG Kar case: Doctors resume 'indefinite strike', list 10 demands

Kolkata rape-murder case: Junior doctors resumed their indefinite 'total cease work' on October 1 and criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation for the slow pace of their inquiry

RG Kar case: West Bengal junior doctors resume strike over safety concerns

The junior doctors restarted the strike after an eight-hour meeting, outlining 10 key demands, including better hospital security and improved health infrastructure

Kolkata rape: SC pulls up WB for not installing CCTVs, HC allows doc rally

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over "tardy" progress by West Bengal government in installation of CCTVs and construction of toilets and separate resting rooms at medical facilities, and directed the state government to complete ongoing work by October 15. The apex court was hearing a suo motu case related to the rape and murder of a postgraduate medic at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The top court also reiterated its earlier order that no intermediary is allowed to publish the name and photo of the victim in the case. As the hearing commenced, advocate Vrinda Grover told a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that the parents of the deceased victim are disconcerted by repeated clips in social media disclosing her name and photos. The top court said it had already passed an order on this issue and it was for the law enforcement agencies to implement the order. It clarified its earlier order an