Kolkata rape-murder case: Junior doctors on indefinite hunger strike; demand safety, justice

The junior doctors warned that the state would be held accountable if any of them fell ill during the hunger strike.

Junior doctors, demanding justice for the deceased woman medic from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, along with workplace safety, continued their hunger strike until death on Sunday at Dharmatala in central Kolkata.

Several senior doctors, who have been present at the protest site since Saturday night, are also considering joining the hunger strike in solidarity with their junior colleagues.

"The support we are receiving gives us the strength and motivation to continue our protest against the brutal murder of our fellow doctor. We are encouraged to see that people have not forgotten that justice has yet to be served, and attacks on doctors continue while the state government has shown little regard for our demands," said Debasish Halder, one of the protesting doctors, reported PTI.

The junior doctors began their hunger strike on Saturday night after the state government failed to meet their 24-hour deadline to fulfill their demands by 8:30 PM. On Friday, they had initiated a sit-in demonstration at the Dorina crossing in Dharmatala following an alleged assault by Kolkata Police personnel.

To ensure transparency, the protesting doctors have installed CCTV cameras at the protest site where the hunger strike is taking place.

The six doctors participating in the fast have been identified as Snigdha Hazra, Tanaya Panja, and Anustup Mukhopadhyay from Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, Arnab Mukhopadhyay from SSKM Hospital, Pulastha Acharya from NRS Medical College and Hospital, and Sayantani Ghosh Hazra from KPC Medical College.

The junior doctors warned that the state would be held accountable if any of them fell ill during the hunger strike.

Large crowds of supporters, including common people and several celebrities, have gathered at the protest site since Saturday night to express solidarity.

On Friday, the junior doctors had called off their "total cease work" that had severely impacted healthcare services at state-run medical colleges and hospitals.

The primary demand of the protesting doctors remains justice for the slain woman medic. In addition, they have outlined several other demands, including the removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam, holding the state Health Department accountable for alleged administrative failures and corruption, and the creation of a centralised referral system for hospitals and medical colleges.

They also called for the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system and the formation of task forces to ensure the provision of essential facilities like CCTV cameras, on-call rooms, and washrooms at healthcare institutions.

Additional demands include enhanced police protection at hospitals, recruitment of permanent women police personnel, and swift filling of vacancies for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff.

The junior doctors had gone on "cease work" following the rape-murder of a fellow medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. They ended their 42-day protest on September 21 after assurances from the state government to address their concerns.(With agency inputs)