Kolkata doctor murder case: Bengal doctors hold torch rally ahead of crucial Supreme Court hearing today
PTC News Desk: Junior doctors from government hospitals across West Bengal, along with citizens, organised torch rallies on Sunday as part of an ongoing protest demanding justice for a woman trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. These demonstrations come ahead of a crucial Supreme Court hearing on the case.
The protesting medics, who had earlier staged a 41-day cease-work protest, are calling for improved security measures at hospitals to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The rallies took place at several major locations, including RG Kar Hospital, Sagore Dutta Hospital, SSKM Hospital, Calcutta Medical College, and Jadavpur in south Kolkata, according to PTI reports.
The demonstrations were organised by the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, an umbrella organisation representing doctors from various medical colleges. Apart from seeking justice for the victim, the protests also aimed to draw attention to the ‘threat culture’ prevalent in medical colleges, where students reportedly face intimidation.
The protests were reignited following a recent assault on three doctors and three nurses at Sagore Dutta Hospital, which the protesting doctors say is evidence of the government’s failure to provide the promised security at hospitals.
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Threat of Renewed Cease-Work Strike
On Saturday, junior doctors threatened to resume a complete cease-work strike starting Monday, depending on the state government’s response in the Supreme Court during the hearing of the RG Kar case.
One of the junior doctors warned, “We are giving an ultimatum to the state government. If no concrete steps are taken to enhance hospital security and improve infrastructure, we will initiate a full-scale strike again from Monday.”
Background of the Kolkata Rape-Murder Case
The victim, a woman trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital, was found dead on August 9 in a seminar room. The autopsy revealed that she had suffered severe injuries and had been sexually assaulted. The Kolkata police arrested the main suspect, Sanjay Roy, the day after the incident, based on CCTV footage showing him entering the building and evidence linking him to the crime scene.
The case, which has since been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), sparked nationwide outrage, with widespread protests demanding swift justice for the victim. The ongoing demonstrations, including the torch rallies, are a continuation of the public’s call for accountability and safety for healthcare workers.
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