Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Rallies and demonstrations continue in city; West Bengal Medical council issues notice to erring doctors

Protests and crackdown on suspects in Kolkata doctor's rape and murder case, with ongoing demonstrations and investigations.

Rallies and demonstration in protest of the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and continued on Saturday (September 7, 2024) with doctors marching to the Raj Bhawan and artists bringing out the anguish of protesters on canvass.

The West Bengal Medical Council on Saturday (September 7, 2024) cracked the whip on former principal of R.G. Kar MCH Sandip Kumar Ghosh who is under the custody of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A show cause notice was issued to the former principal and the council has given three day time to respond to these allegations.

Suspension notices by the council have also been issued to two doctors Birupaksha Biswas and Avik De — considered close to Sandip Kumar Ghosh. The State Health Department has also suspended all the three doctors from service.

Central agencies both the CBI and Enforcement Directorate, have conducted searches at multiple properties related to Sandip Kumar Ghosh. Several properties of the former principal of R.G. Kar MCH have come to the fore in the past few days. The presence of the two doctors — Birupaksha Biswas and Avik De engaged in other medical colleges of the State — at R.G. Kar MCH on the day the body of the victim was found, had triggered a lot of speculation.

Doctors under the banner of West Bengal Service Doctors Forum on Saturday took out a rally from Nil Ratan Medical College near Sealdah station to the Raj Bhavan here. The delegation was stopped near Raj Bhawan where prohibitory orders were in force around the building. Among those who participated in the protests was well known doctor and activist Binayak Sen. The delegation submitted a memorandum to the Raj Bhawan secretariat.

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In another solidarity movement for the victim, painters like Sanatan Dinda drew sketches in watercolor and oil on canvas at Shyambazar, close to the R.G. Kar MCH. The painting workshop was held at the ‘dharna manch’ of the student and youth organisations of CPI(M) at Shyambazar in north Kolkata. Several artists have announced return of awards by the State government to protests against the rape and murder.