RG Kar hunger strike: Junior doctors' fast-unto-death enters day 14; support grows

Kolkata: The hunger strike by a group of junior doctors protesting the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital has now reached its 14th day. Each day, more members of the public and representatives from various professions are showing their support for the doctors.

On Friday, two well-known cultural and literary groups in West Bengal decided to hold a 12-hour hunger strike in solidarity with the protesting junior doctors. One of these groups will also host a cultural event at the hunger strike site in Esplanade, central Kolkata, to further support the doctors.

“Our strength is the spontaneous and unstinting support from the people. We have been able to carry forward our movement in support of our demands because of the mass support,” said a representative of West Bengal Junior Doctors Front, the umbrella body spearheading the movement on this issue.

In response to the ongoing situation, the West Bengal government has scheduled an important meeting for Friday, which will be led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The meeting aims to review the progress on improving security and infrastructure at state-run medical colleges and hospitals, as directed by the Supreme Court. The heads of all state-run medical institutions have been instructed to attend, either in person or virtually.

Currently, eight junior doctors are continuing their hunger strike, with seven participating at Esplanade and one at North Bengal Medical College & Hospital in Siliguri. Since the hunger strike began on October 5, six doctors have been hospitalised due to health issues. Aniket Mahato, the first doctor to be hospitalised, was released from the hospital on Thursday but has been advised to follow strict medical and dietary guidelines and to avoid fasting for the time being.

Agency