Kolkata doctor murder: Bengal junior doctors launch complete strike, demand improved safety and security measures

PTC News Desk: Junior doctors in West Bengal resumed their total ‘cease work’ on Tuesday, pressing the Mamata Banerjee government to meet their demands for improved safety and security at medical establishments, as reported by PTI. This escalation follows an eight-hour-long meeting where the junior doctors decided to take further action after the government failed to address their concerns.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front has presented a list of 10 demands, which include strengthening hospital security, upgrading health infrastructure, and addressing what they describe as a “culture of threats and political interference” within hospitals. Their renewed protest comes after a brief return to partial duties on September 21, following a 42-day strike.

RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case | We are compelled to return to a full ceasework starting from today. Unless we receive clear action from the government on safety, patient services, and the politics of fear, we will have no choice but to continue our full… pic.twitter.com/FG0DxlI9CW

— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2024

“We are forced to resume a full ceasework starting today. Without clear government action on our demands for safety, patient services, and the elimination of fear politics in hospitals, we will continue this strike indefinitely,” said the Junior Doctors’ Front in a statement.

The strike was initially triggered by the horrific rape and murder of a female doctor on duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Despite resuming partial work on September 21, the doctors expressed frustration over the state government’s lack of progress in fulfilling their safety demands.

Aniket Mahato, one of the protesting doctors, stated, “We have seen no positive steps from the state government toward our demands for safety and security. Today is the 52nd day of our protest, and we are still facing attacks. There has been no effort to honor the promises made during meetings with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Given the circumstances, we have no option but to fully cease work again.”

Mahato further emphasised that the complete strike would continue until the government takes clear, definitive action on their demands.

The resumption of the strike coincides with a significant legal ruling. On Monday, the Calcutta High Court granted permission for a protest rally organised by the Joint Platform of Doctors (JPD) to be held on Tuesday. The rally is in response to the rape and murder of the trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College.

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Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, while disposing of a petition by the JPD, authorised the peaceful rally to proceed between 5 pm and 8 pm, starting from College Square in north Kolkata and ending at Rabindra Sadan in the south. The rally is set to traverse Central Avenue and Esplanade.

Despite Kolkata Police’s request to limit the number of participants and shorten the rally route, the court did not impose such restrictions. Instead, the authorities, under the supervision of the Joint Commissioner of Police (headquarters), were instructed to ensure adequate security to allow the rally to proceed peacefully. The court also directed the rally organizers to provide sufficient volunteers to manage participants and maintain order.

The JPD, representing the Association of Health Service Doctors, West Bengal, had originally approached the police seeking permission for a larger rally with approximately 50,000 participants. The police, however, had restricted the rally to 1,000 participants and adjusted the route to end at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, which led to the JPD challenging the restrictions in court.

The junior doctors’ strike and the ongoing protests come in the aftermath of the gruesome discovery of the postgraduate trainee’s body at RG Kar Medical College. The victim was found with severe injuries in the seminar hall of the hospital, sparking widespread outrage and demands for immediate safety reforms in medical institutions across the state.

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