West Bengal

Bengal doctors' stir: IMA writes to CM Mamata, says security a prerequisite

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Thursday urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to resolve the issues of junior doctors who are on a hunger strike in Kolkata, saying a safe working environment is not a luxury but a prerequisite. In a letter to Banerjee, the IMA said it has been almost a week since the young doctors started the hunger strike and they deserve her "immediate attention". The junior doctors of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata have been protesting against the alleged rape and murder of a colleague on August 9. Their indefinite hunger strike entered the fifth day on Thursday. The IMA said it supports the "just demands" of the protesting doctors. "They deserve your immediate attention," the IMA said in its letter to Banerjee, adding that the West Bengal government is fully capable of fulfilling all demands of the protesters. "Peaceful ambience and security are not a luxury. They are a prerequisite. We appeal to your good self to settle the

Bengal Inc mourns demise of Ratan Tata, expresses admiration for his legacy

The business community in Bengal and across India is in mourning, following the demise of Ratan Tata, the legendary former chairman of the Tata Group. Tributes poured in from industry leaders and organisations alike, expressing their deep sorrow and admiration for Tata's legacy. Amit Saraogi, president of the MCCI, lauded Tata's transformative leadership, which saw the Tata Group's revenues soar from USD 4 billion to over USD 100 billion. Saraogi also highlighted Tata's significant contributions to corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Titagarh Rail VC & MD Umesh Chowdhary and other prominent figures echoed Saraogi's sentiments, emphasising Tata's inspirational qualities and unwavering commitment to excellence. They remembered him as a visionary businessman who not only shaped the Indian corporate landscape but also touched the lives of countless people. The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) also expressed condolences highlighting Tata's pioneering role in forging a ...

RG Kar case: Doctors continue fast unto death amid Durga Puja festivities

The junior doctors, agitating over the rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar hospital, continued their fast unto death for the fifth day on Thursday amid the Durga Puja festivities across West Bengal. At 9.30 am, the fast by the nine junior doctors of various medical colleges entered its 108th hour. The junior doctors began the fast unto death on Saturday evening at the Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala in the heart of Kolkata after ending the total cease work that had crippled healthcare services. Meanwhile, the state government convened a meeting on Wednesday evening with the protestors but failed to break the deadlock. Following the meeting, which was chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, the protesting doctors alleged that they received nothing concrete from the state except "verbal assurances". "Our friends have been protesting without food for over four days, and the government says it will consider our demands only in the third week of October, after the pujas. We n

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 case: Police 'picks up' 29 for giving leaflets at Durga Puja marquee

Police on Wednesday evening "picked up" around 29 people from a popular Durga Puja marquee in south Kolkata, where they were distributing leaflets regarding the ongoing junior doctors' protests demanding justice for the RG Kar hospital victim, an officer said. They were brought to the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar from the Tridhara Sammilani Puja at Deshapriya Park, he said. While the police maintained they were common people showing solidarity with the medics, the junior doctors insisted that the ones picked up were their colleagues. 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 atroci

RG Kar case: Junior doctors to distribute leaflets at Kolkata puja pandals

Agitating junior doctors will distribute leaflets outlining their demands for justice for their murdered colleague at various Durga Puja pandals across the city on Wednesday besides holding a blood donation camp, one of the agitating medics said. "Tomorrow we will hold a blood donation camp and distribute leaflets at various puja pandals, highlighting our demands. The mass resignation of our senior doctors earlier during the day has boosted our confidence, but we believe that the West Bengal government is exerting pressure on them," junior medic Debasish Halder said on Tuesday night. Seven junior doctors have been on a fast-unto-death since Saturday night, supported by several senior colleagues who joined them in solidarity. Earlier during the day, more than 50 doctors at RG Kar hospital tendered mass resignations to back the junior doctors' cause. However, the state government claimed it had not received any such resignation letters. "The state cannot remain silent. They must eng

Kolkata slowly gets into Durga Puja spirit as retail, sponsors bounce back

Retail, restaurant, sponsorship scene gradually recovers from the strain of protests and the absence of Bangladeshi shoppers

Kolkata case: Doctors' association calls for nationwide strike on Oct 9

Kolkata case updates: The CBI on Monday filed a chargesheet naming Sanjoy Roy as sole accused in connection with the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital

RG Kar case: Medics continue fast-unto-death, to hold rally on Tuesday

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. The medics also announced organising a rally in Kolkata from central Kolkata's College Square to Dharmatala at around 4.30 PM on Tuesday to press for their demands. "Tomorrow we will also be holding a symbolic hunger strike at all medical colleges and hospitals across the state. Representatives of various doctors' associations will take part in it. This will start at 9 AM Tuesday and will continue till 9 PM. We will also hold a rally in Kolkata. We, on behalf of the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum, invite all those who have been beside us since Day 1 of our protest," one junior medic said. Six junior medics have been on the fast-unto-death since Saturday evening and later one more joined them. Senio

RG Kar rape-murder case: CBI files chargesheet, Sanjoy Roy sole accused

The CBI chargesheet says that accused Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with the local police, allegedly committed the crime on August 9 at the premises of the RG Kar College and Hospital in Kolkata

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

West Bengal CM Mamata asks police to register Kultuli case under Posco Act

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday directed the police to register the alleged rape-murder case of a 10-year-old girl in South 24 Parganas district under the POCSO Act, and ensure that the culprits get capital punishment within three months. Her direction came on a day when Calcutta High Court ordered that the post-mortem examination of the schoolgirl be conducted at AIIMS Kalyani on Monday morning in the presence of the additional chief judicial magistrate of Baruipur court. The 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered while returning to her Joynagar home after attending her tuition classes on Saturday. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, while hearing a petition filed by the girl's parents on Sunday, directed that if AIIMS Kalyani lacks the necessary infrastructure to conduct the post-mortem examination, it should be carried out at Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial (JNM) Hospital, also located in Kalyani, the court said. However, the post-mortem examination must be done

RG Kar case: Jr doctors continue hunger strike; demand justice, safety

Agitating junior doctors demanding justice for the deceased woman medic of the Kar Medical College and Hospital and workplace safety continued their hunger strike until death on Sunday in the central part of the city's Dharmatala area. Several senior doctors, who have been at the protest site since Saturday night, are also planning to join their junior counterparts in the hunger strike. "The support of these people gives us the courage, the enthusiasm to continue our protest against the gruesome murder of our sister. We are happy to see that people have not forgotten that justice is yet not given and attacks on doctors are still on and the state government has no serious note of our demands," Debasish Halder, one of the agitating doctors, told PTI. The junior medics started their hunger strike untill death on Saturday night after the state government missed the 24-hour deadline of fulfilling their demands by 8.30 pm on Saturday. They had on Friday begun a sit-in demonstration at th

Academics hail Centre for granting classical language status to Bengali

Academics and Bengali identity advocacy groups have hailed the decision of the Centre to accord classical language status to Bengali language expressing hope that it will facilitate in greater use of the language in official communication and examinations. Eminent indologist and linguist Nrisingo Prasad Bhaduri said he hoped that after the honour, at all India level, there will be greater use of the language in competitive examinations, more use of synonyms of familiar English terms in science and economics and present day students will feel encouraged to use these Bengali synonyms in their exams. Thanking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bhaduri said after he and other academics drew her attention to the fact that Bengali was not accorded classical language status despite having thousands of years of history from the day of its origin and evolution. "The state government submitted voluminous documents in this regard very promptly and the recognition came in 6-7 months ...

RG Kar case: Junior doctors begin fast unto death ahead of Durga Puja

The junior doctors, protesting over the rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar hospital, went on fast unto death on Saturday evening, claiming that their demands were not fulfilled by the West Bengal government. With three days left before the Durga Puja festivities start, the doctors had on Friday begun a sit-in demonstration at the Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala in the heart of Kolkata, setting a 24-hour deadline for the state government to fulfil their demands. "The state government has failed the deadline and hence we are starting the fast unto death, which will continue till our demands are fulfilled. To maintain transparency, we have installed CCTV cameras at the dais where our colleagues are holding the fast," a junior doctor said. "We joined duty last night but will not eat anything," he said, adding that at present six junior doctors were sitting on fast. The six doctors who were sitting on the fast were identified as Snigdha Hazra, Tanaya Panja and Anustup ...

RG Kar case: Docs continue sit-in, wait for state to fulfill their demands

Despite calling off their 'total cease work' on Friday evening, agitating junior doctors continued their sit-in in central Kolkata throughout the night alleging that police lathi-charged a few of them during a rally to press for justice for the deceased woman doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The junior doctors called off their 'total cease work' at state-run medical colleges and hospitals around 8.30 pm on Friday, but threatened to launch a hunger strike till death if their demands were not met by the West Bengal government within 24 hours. "When you are fighting for a significant cause, you cannot expect things to be easy. We anticipated better treatment from the state government. The lathi charge and the verbal abuse from police were both unnecessary, and we demand an apology," Debasish Halder, a representative of the protesting junior medics, told PTI. "We will not vacate this place until that is provided," he added. Medics from RG Kar Medical College, alongside the

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 .

News updates: Ladakh volunteers to go on indefinite fast if govt leaders don't meet, says Wangchuk

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Junior docs call off 'total cease work', threaten to launch hunger strike

Agitating junior doctors demanding justice for the RG Kar medic 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'. But we will continue our sit-in protest. We will give the state administration 24 hours to fulfill our demands or else we will start a hunger strike till death," an agitating doctor, Debasish Halder of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, said. Holding clocks in their hands, the doctors reiterated their demands including the directive to form a central enquiry committee for disciplinary proceedings against alleged perpetrators involved in "threat culture" in all medical colleges of West Bengal, among others.

RG Kar case: WB junior doctors likely to call off 'total cease work' today

West Bengal's agitating junior doctors are likely to call off their "total cease work" on Friday and resume normal duties soon after, while continuing their demonstrations demanding justice for their murdered colleague at RG Kar hospital and improved safety measures in medical facilities. After holding a governing body meeting throughout Thursday night, the junior medics decided to hold a rally on Friday afternoon, during which they are likely to announce their decision to withdraw the "total cease work," a source said. However, they plan to set a deadline for the state government to implement their demands, after which they will launch a "indefinite fast" until their promises are fulfilled, he added. "The governing body meeting concluded this morning. We have decided to suspend the total cease work for now, but our demonstrations will continue. We are mindful of the large number of patients relying on state-run hospitals every day," one of the agitating doctors told PTI. Their sen