West Bengal Doctors' Associations To Resume Protests Over RG Kar Hospital Rape-Murder Case After Bail Granted To Two Accused

The West Bengal Joint Platform of Doctors (WBJPD) has announced a 10-day sit-in demonstration in central Kolkata, starting Tuesday (17 December), to protest the handling of the Kar Medical College rape and murder case.

The WBJPD, an umbrella body of five doctors’ associations, will hold the demonstration at Doreena Crossing until December 26. The protest demands the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) expedite its probe and submit a supplementary charge sheet.

The recent protest trigger comes after two key suspects were granted bail. "We also demand the immediate submission of the supplementary charge sheet by the CBI," said Dr. Punyabrata Gun, joint convener of WBJPD.

Last Friday, the Sealdah court granted bail to two accused, former Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh and ex-officer-in-charge of Tala police station Abhijit Mondal. The bail was granted after the CBI "failed" to file a charge sheet within the mandatory 90-day period.

The WBJPD has written to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, seeking permission to conduct the protest peacefully. The group has also requested police protection to ensure the safety of participants.

"We have sought permission from the police to set up a temporary stage without any interruption to the traffic movement. We have assured them that the demonstration will be conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner following all legal and safety guidelines," Dr. Gun stated.

The protest follows a march organised by the WBJPD on Saturday to the CBI office at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake, expressing dissatisfaction with the investigation’s progress.

The case revolves around the death of a female doctor at the state-run Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. She was found dead on 9 August, triggering widespread protests and demands for justice.