NEW DELHI: A protest march was organised by the Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front in Kolkata on Wednesday, demanding justice for a medic who was raped and murdered at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August. The march, which began at College Street and ended in Esplanade area, was joined by thousands of junior doctors and people from various walks of life.The protesters vowed to continue their agitation until the government takes decisive action.
One of the protesters, identifying herself as a colleague of the deceased, said, “We are not in a ‘Puja’ or ‘Utsav’ mood, and we will continue protesting on the streets till our sister gets justice. We have chosen this day of Mahalaya to send out this message.”
The protesters carried placards and national flags, raising slogans and asserting their determination to fight for justice. The march coincided with the ongoing ‘cease-work’ stir by doctors in hospitals, protesting against the heinous crime.
As the rally concluded at Esplanade, leaders of the Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front pledged to continue their agitation until the government takes definitive action. An agitating junior doctor addressed the crowd, saying, “We will not give up. This is about our safety, our dignity, and justice for Abhaya. The government cannot expect us to remain silent while they do nothing.”
The rally attracted a diverse mix of participants, including doctors, nurses, medical students, and concerned citizens. Later, the protesters gathered on the banks of Ganga, lighting 1,000 diyas as a symbolic act in their fight for justice.
Despite the festive atmosphere in the city due to the upcoming Durga Puja, the protesters maintained that their movement for justice took precedence over celebrations. Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating junior doctors, addressed the crowd at Esplanade, saying, “Today is the 52nd day of our protest, and we are still facing attacks. There is no positive response from the state government toward meeting our safety and security demands.”
The junior doctors in West Bengal have resumed their ‘cease work’ protest, claiming that the state government has failed to fulfill the promises made in mid-September. The doctors had partially resumed services after a 42-day strike but went back to the protest on Tuesday, citing the lack of implementation of key demands such as enhanced safety measures for medical staff.
The Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front has raised several demands, including the installation of CCTV cameras on hospital premises, round-the-clock security for healthcare workers, and stricter protocols to prevent incidents of violence against medical professionals. The doctors have also highlighted the culture of fear and intimidation within state-run hospitals, alleging that the administration has not provided a safe working environment. “We joined our profession to serve the people, but how can we do so when we constantly live in fear? We don’t feel safe in the very places where we are supposed to save lives,” said another junior doctor.
Despite initial promises by the West Bengal government to address the doctors’ concerns, the agitating doctors claim that there has been little follow-up action. The government’s attempts to broker peace with the doctors have so far been unsuccessful, with state officials urging the medics to return to work and suggesting that police investigations into the alleged murder of the junior doctor are ongoing.
The junior doctors’ protest has received widespread support from Kolkata’s general public, with many residents expressing solidarity with the movement. “This is not just about doctors. This is about justice, about safety in our institutions, and about holding those in power accountable,” said Swati Mukherjee, a homemaker who joined the rally along with her family.
As tensions between the junior doctors and the state government intensify, the protest movement is expected to continue in the coming weeks, even as Kolkata prepares for its biggest festival of the year.
In a symbolic gesture, a statue named ‘Abhaya’ was unveiled on RG Kar Hospital premises, which the agitating doctors claim represents the horrific incident that occurred on August 9 and the ongoing protests demanding justice. “This statue is not of the victim, but a symbol of pain, torture she went through and the ongoing protests,” a junior doctor of the hospital told reporters.