Kolkata: A day after calling off their nearly a month-long protest over the RG Kar rape and murder case, the agitating junior doctors have planned a march to CBI office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake on Friday. The doctors who were camping outside Swasthya Bhavan, the state health department’s headquarters, for the last 10 days, will hold the march from their protest site to CBI’s officer, demanding justice in the trainee doctor’s rape and murder case.
The doctors had on Thursday announced the withdrawal of their sit-in, ending the long-standing impasse over the rape and murder of the trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last month. The medics said that they will partially resume duties entailing the attending essential services in state-run hospitals from Saturday but will not work in the Outpatient Department (OPD).
Doctors’ march from Swasthya Bhavan to CBI office
The junior doctors planned the protest march from the state health department’s headquarters to CBI office located in CGO Complex, a distance of around 4 km, to seek a quick wrap-up of investigations in the rape and murder case. The doctors said that they will march to CBI office to mark the withdrawal of their 10-day sit in outside Swasthya Bhavan.
The protesting doctors called off their protest after the West Bengal government gave in to their several demands, including transferring Kolkata Police chief Vineet Goyal and removing the directors of medical education and health services. The government also issued a slew of directives on the safety, security and conducive environment for healthcare professionals.
Doctors-Mamata govt stalemate ends
The doctors and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government in the state were locked in a stalemate over the RG Kar case for the past few days. The 41-day impasse ended after Banerjee paid a surprise visit to the protest site last week and assured the agitating doctors that she will look into their demands and take action if someone is found guilty. Following her visit, doctors and Chief Minister held their first meeting on Monday after three failed attempts.