Kolkata: Nearly three months after the tragic rape and murder of a medic at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, junior doctors have expressed frustration with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over the slow progress of the investigation. They announced plans for new protests to voice their concerns.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum criticised the CBI for filing a charge sheet in the case that only named one suspect, who had been arrested by the police before the CBI took over the investigation following a Calcutta High Court order.
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"We will take out a rally in Kolkata on November 9 from College Square to Esplanade along with members of civil society organisations. There will be similar rallies in different parts of West Bengal,” Forum spokesperson Debashis Halder told a press meet at R G Kar Hospital.
A mass rally is scheduled for November 9 on Rani Rashmoni Avenue in the Esplanade area, demanding justice for the slain medic. "We are also giving a call to light lamps at every locality of Bengal on November 4," Halder said.
The junior doctors feel that the charge sheet does not fully address the involvement of “other perpetrators” in the crime, as it only identifies one individual as directly responsible. "Has the role of other arrested persons including former (RG Kar hospital) principal Sandip Ghosh been entirely investigated?" Halder asked. The accused, Ghosh, was initially arrested for unrelated financial misconduct at the hospital but was later linked to the rape and murder case.
Expressing their dissatisfaction with the pace of the CBI's investigation, junior doctor Halder voiced concerns that the slow progress could allow the accused to secure bail. "Why such a routine kind of investigation was held? We wish to know what steps the central agency has undertaken against higher authorities in the hospital and whether the sleuths talked to higher-ups in the health department," Halder said.
He noted that the doctors had previously organised a rally at the CBI office before Diwali to urge for a faster investigation, but given the current circumstances, they feel compelled to escalate their protests.
The ruling Trinamool Congress party criticised the junior doctors for their renewed agitation. Senior TMC MP Kalyan Bandyopadhyay stated that the protests appear to lack direction and suggested that the movement is being influenced by the CPM. He emphasised that the CBI is still investigating the incident and that the case is currently under judicial review. "What is the point in chalking out one programme after another inconveniencing the common man?" he asked.
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Published: 02 Nov 2024, 10:43 am IST
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