Page 7 - Doctors Protests

Medic rape-murder: Protesters take to streets demanding justice for victim

Slogans demanding justice for the RG Kar rape-murder victim reverberated the air at the stroke of midnight on Sunday across Kolkata and many other cities and towns in West Bengal. Protesters, both women and men, young and old took to the streets, forming human chains, writing graffiti on the roads, holding burning torches and singing the national anthem as many waved the tricolour, the only flag allowed in the apolitical rallies across the state by the civil society, to register their protest against the murder of the young doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital a month ago on August 9. With the Supreme Court scheduled to hear the suo motu case related to the crime on Monday, many participants in the third instance of 'Reclaim the night' in the state said they were confident that justice will be provided by the apex court. While some named the victim doctor 'Tilottama', many others referred to her as 'Abhaya', but all were together in their quest for justice for her. Every

RG Kar hospital incident: Victim's mother says all protesting her children

People from all walks of life - former students of several educational institutions, clay modellers, rickshaw pullers and junior doctors separately hit the streets of Kolkata on Sunday in continued protest over the rape and murder of a medic in a state-run hospital a month ago. Demanding the arrest of all culprits in the case, the mother of the post-graduate trainee whose body was found in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 said she had one child and now all the protesting medics are her children. In south Kolkata, around 4,000 former students of over 40 schools, a large number of them women, walked a distance of 2 km demanding justice for the victim. The former students of various ages chanted 'We Want Justice' as they walked along Rash Behari Avenue to the crossing of Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road from Gariahat. Ex-students of institutes like Binodini Girls School, Mitra Institution, Garfa High School, Carmel High School and St John's Diocesan took part in the ...

Bengal medical council issues show cause notice to ex-RG Kar principal

The West Bengal Medical Council on Saturday issued a show cause notice to arrested ex-RG Kar hospital principal Sandip Ghosh over his alleged involvement in financial irregularities at the health facility, an official said. The 'show-cause notice' to Ghosh is a step before the council takes any decision on cancelling his medical registration, he said. Dr Ghosh has been served with a show cause notice. We have given him a three-day time to reply to the same," the official told PTI. Ghosh has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The allegations of financial irregularities at the hospital came to light after the body of a woman doctor was recovered from there on August 9. The postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty in the health facility. The incident triggered a nationwide protest. Three other doctors have also been asked to refrain from a

Ex-RG Kar hospital principal had criminal nexus with co-accused: CBI

Arrested former principal of RG Kar hospital Sandip Ghosh has been operating a "criminal nexus along with the other "co-accused for wrongful gains, according to initial findings of the CBI's probe into financial irregularities at the medical establishment here, an officer claimed on Saturday. The central probe agency had also placed the findings before a special court here during a hearing earlier in the week, he said. The CBI had arrested Ghosh, two vendors, and his security person for their alleged involvement in financial irregularities at the state-run hospital, where the rape-murder of a young doctor has triggered nationwide protests. "These (two) vendors were known to Ghosh since he was with the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. We have found that they granted the contracts of RGKMC&H (RG Kar Medical College and Hospital) only because of their proximity with Ghosh," the officer said. Ghosh was posted at the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital for two years from .

Durga Puja preparations continue despite protests over medic's murder-rape

Amid ongoing demonstrations demanding justice for the murdered R G Kar hospital doctor, members of various committees have assured that preparations for the upcoming Durga Puja festival are going on in full swing. A section of people, disheartened by the arrest of only one person in connection with the rape-murder case, have been advocating for a boycott of Durga Puja celebrations this year. They argue that protests should persist until the victim receives true justice. Durga Puja festivities are set to kick-off from October 9. "Until we secure justice for our murdered sister at R G Kar hospital, our movement will persist," said Debalina Dey, an RJ, social media activist, and one of the prominent campaigners of the 'Women Reclaim the Night' initiative in Sodepur. "If this impacts Puja preparations and shopping, so be it. It's not the right time to discuss Durga Puja themes or pandals while we stand in solidarity with Abhaya (the symbolic name given to the woman doctor)," she ...

Resume work, leave justice to SC: IMA chief Asokan to protesting doctors

Amid continued protests by medics following the R G Kar rape-murder incident, Indian Medical Association president Dr R V Asokan on Wednesday urged all doctors to resume work, leaving the job of delivering justice to the Supreme Court. In a statement, he said the rape and murder of the trainee postgraduate woman doctor at the West Bengal government-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital has moved the nation's conscience. "The anger and frustration of the entire nation is over the fact that she happened to be a budding doctor as well as that she was the only girl child of lower-middle-class parents. The entire nation has adopted her as their daughter," the IMA chief said. Referring to the protests by doctors across the country, Dr Asokan said the medical fraternity was "justifiably on the boil". Resident doctors hit the road with anger and deep sorrow, he said adding the IMA had also called for withdrawal of medical services barring emergency care for 24 hours. Subsequently, the

Medic rape-murder: Junior doctors in Bengal continue ceasework in protest

The ceasework by junior doctors at state-run hospitals in West Bengal continued on Wednesday to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee medic at RG Kar hospital here last month. Health services remained crippled at most state-run medical facilities due to the ceasework, which has been underway for over three weeks now. Our demand for justice is still unfulfilled. The protests will continue till our sister gets justice and the culprits are brought to book, one of the junior medics said. He said Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal has not resigned, too, which was another demand of the agitating doctors. The protesters have alleged inadequate steps by the police during its probe into the August 9 rape-murder of the young doctor, before the investigation was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court. The body of an on-duty postgraduate trainee was found in the seminar room of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the city. The incident has ...

Bengal govt suspends ex-RG Kar Hospital principal after CBI arrest

The West Bengal health department suspended former principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh on Tuesday, a day after the CBI arrested him for alleged financial misconduct. Ghosh was suspended 26 days after the body of an on-duty woman medic, who was allegedly raped and murdered, was found inside the seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Hospital on August 9. "In view of the ongoing criminal investigation against Prof (Dr) Sandip Ghosh, ex-principal, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, he is placed under suspension... with immediate effect," an order said. The Calcutta High Court on August 23 ordered the transfer of a probe into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The direction came in response to a petition by former deputy superintendent of the facility, Dr Akhtar Ali, who prayed for a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into ...

Doctor rape-murder: Centre moves SC, alleges non-cooperation by WB govt

The Centre on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court alleging "unpardonable" non-cooperation by the West Bengal government in providing logistical support to the CISF, tasked with providing security at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered. Terming the alleged non-cooperation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government as an example "symptomatic of a systemic malaise", the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a direction to West Bengal authorities to extend full cooperation to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). In case of their failure to do so, the Centre urged the apex court to initiate contempt proceedings against the state government officials concerned for wilful non-compliance of the court orders. On August 20, the apex court had termed the rape and murder case of a medic at the hospital as "horrific" and issued a slew of directions including setting up of a 10-member National Task Force to formulate a protoc

After 24 hours, Kolkata police allows protesting junior doctors to proceed

The doctors, who were joined by several common people as well as students from other educational institutions, spent the entire Monday night on BB Ganguly street

Bengal to table Bill for death penalty in rape cases today: Details here

The new Bill to be tabled in the Bengal Assembly today proposes the death penalty for individuals convicted of rape resulting in death or a vegetative state.

Kolkata rape-murder: "BJP workers to go to DM's office and give deputation"

BJP workers had clashed with police as they 'gheraoed' District Magistrate's (DMs) office in Cooch Behar

After ex-RG Kar's principal, CBI arrests 3 more over 'financial misconduct'

The CBI on Monday arrested former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Dr Sandip Ghosh and three others for their alleged involvement in financial misconduct at the establishment, officials said. Within an hour after Ghosh was arrested, CBI officers picked up his security guard and two vendors who used to supply materials to the hospital where the body of a woman medic, who was raped and murdered, was found on August 9. The Calcutta High Court on August 23 ordered the transfer of the probe into the alleged financial irregularities at hospital from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI. The direction came in response to a petition by former deputy superintendent of the facility, Dr Akhtar Ali, who prayed for a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into multiple counts of alleged financial misconduct at the state-run institute during the tenure of its former principal.

Kolkata rape-murder: Prominent personalities join rally demanding justice

Film director Aparna Sen, prominent personalities from the Bengali film industry and rights activists on Sunday joined thousands of people in a massive rally demanding justice for a doctor who was raped-murdered at RG Kar hospital here last month. At the end of the rally, the participants of the Mahamicchil squatted at the busy Esplanade area of the city, vowing to be there till 4am on Monday morning to press upon the government for a swift probe into the henious crime and arrest of the guilty. As the protest continued well past midnight, the air was filled with revolutionary songs like "Karar Oi Louho Kopat", "We Shall Overcome", among others. Actor Debalina Mukherjee said, "Every passing day, the movement for justice will grow fiercer until all those responsible for the gruesome incident at R G Kar are punished. We understand that there is a legal process through the courts and the CBI, but we will wait until that process is complete." Sunday night's protest was reminiscent of th

Doctor rape-murder: Several protest rallies slated for today across Kolkata

Numerous rallies and demonstrations are scheduled to be held in Kolkata on Sunday, demanding justice for the trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and killed at the RG Kar hospital here last month. The ruling TMC and opposition BJP, as well as civil society members, are slated to hold street protests in the metropolis and across West Bengal during the day. Women members of the TMC will stage demonstrations at different blocks, demanding amendment in laws for capital punishment of rapists, even as the BJP continues its sit-in at Esplanade that started on August 29. Union minister and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar had earlier said that the protesters want Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to step down over the medic's rape-murder. The West Bengal government has convened a special assembly session on Monday to table and pass a bill, which would provide for capital punishment to convicted rapists. A Maha Michhil' (mega rally) consisting of people from different professions is als

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Deceased Kolkata doc's family under house arrest, claims Adhir Ranjan

West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday accused the police of keeping the parents of the doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered under "house arrest". Chowdhury who visited the house of the deceased doctor and spoke to her parents, also alleged that the police had offered the father money for cremating the body quickly. "I visited the family of the deceased doctor's residence and spoke to them for a long time. The police have kept the family under house arrest. They are not allowing them to come out of the house on the pretext of various excuses. The police have created a barricade around them, the CISF have no clue about this," Chowdhury told reporters. "The Kolkata Police following the directive of the state government had offered the father money while telling him that the body of his daughter be cremated without delay," Chowdhury alleged. The body of the post-graduate trainee was found in the seminar room of state-run RG Kar Medical College and ...

Female medics need central law for safety, say doctors at Jantar Mantar

Doctors in the national capital gathered at Jantar Mantar Saturday to protest against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital, asserting that without a central law to protect healthcare workers, female doctors would never feel safe during work. Protestors began gathering at Jantar Mantar from 3 pm onwards to demand justice for the victim of the incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and press the government to expedite the enactment of the Central Healthcare Protection Act, doctor associations said. Dr Deepika, a protesting doctor, told PTI, "I will never allow my daughters to become doctors here... Can you imagine that all of us female doctors are scared now? We feel fearful while working, and we need protection. Can you imagine if she was raped and murdered at her workplace?" "We want protection so that all female doctors can work again without fear," she said. Chairman of Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) Rohan Krishnan said they ha

IMA again asks for central law on violence against doctors, hospitals

The IMA has written to the National Task Force (NTF), which has been mandated to formulate protocol for ensuring safety and security of healthcare professionals, again demanding a central law on violence against doctors and hospitals and declaring hospitals as safe zones. Stating that the Supreme Court has constituted the NTF to evolve a national consensus and to formulate protocols with due consultation of all stakeholders, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in its letter formulated its submission in three sections. The NTF was constituted the apex court in the wake of protests by doctors and healthcare professionals following the recent rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Firstly, putting forth its demand and justification for a central act on violence on doctors and hospitals, the IMA submitted its study 'Safety During Night Duty: Survey of 3885 Doctors Across India", its draft proposal for Central Act, dra

Kolkata rape-murder case: Doctors to hold protest at Jantar Mantar today

The doctors have also been demanding better security laws for healthcare professionals