Doctors to continue protests at Esplanade over RG Kar incident

The agitating junior doctors wrote to the Kolkata Police Commissioner informing him of their decision to continue the protests at the Esplanade. File | Photo Credit: PTI

The agitating junior doctors on Wednesday (December 25, 2024) wrote to the Kolkata Police Commissioner informing him of their decision to continue with protests at Esplanade in the city regarding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier this year.

“We are writing to inform you that our sit-in protest near Dorina Crossing (Metro Channel) will continue for a few days before December 26, 2024 as stated in our previous communications dated December 16, 2024. This protest will continue until our demands are met. it is being met,” said the Joint Platform of Doctors’ communication to the Kolkata Police Commissionerate.

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The Calcutta High Court has allowed night protests till December 26 only. . The Kolkata Police are yet to clarify what their next course of action will be.

In the letter, the Joint Platform of Doctors also added that “despite the order of the Honorable Court, the police did not extend our cooperation to our peaceful protest”.

“We hope that this situation will be rectified soon to ensure the smooth progress of our protest,” reads the letter signed by Punyabrata Gun and Hiralal Konar, co-convener of the Joint Platform of Doctors.

A fresh protest by the Joint Platform of Doctors erupted after a city court granted bail to two suspects – the former principal of RG Kar Hospital and the former officer-in-charge of Tala police station – both arrested for tampering with evidence in a rape case. – the crime of murder. The bail was granted earlier this month after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to file charges against the accused within 90 days of their arrest.

On Tuesday, many doctors’ associations organized a procession to the CBI office at the Salt Lake Central Government Officers (CGO) complex and raised questions about the long-running investigation by the agency into the rape and murder of a junior doctor.

The protesting doctors under the Joint Platform of Doctors said that the Central agency investigated the matter immediately when they protested against the heinous crime two months ago. The doctors’ association said it will intensify the protests to stay on the streets until justice is served.

Not only doctors’ associations, but also the parents of the deceased doctor, 31, moved the Calcutta High Court on December 19 seeking a fresh probe into their daughter’s murder saying they had no faith in the CBI.

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh on December 24 refused to interfere in the matter pointing out that the case is already before the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court.

The body of the trainee doctor was found in the teaching room of RG Kar MCH on August 9 and the main accused Sanjay Roy was arrested by the Kolkata police within a day. The CBI has charged the prime suspect in the rape and murder case on October 7. Roy, a community police volunteer, has been charged with rape and murder.