RG Kar Case: Protesting Doctors Call Off 'Total Cease Work', Threaten To Launch Indefinite Hunger Strike If...

The doctors also reiterated their demand to form a central enquiry committee for disciplinary proceedings against those involved in "threat culture" in medical colleges across West Bengal.

RG Kar rape-murder case: The junior doctors demanding justice for the RG Kar medic on Friday evening called off their 'total cease work' at state-run medical colleges and hospitals. However, they have threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike if the Bengal government does not agree to their demands within 24 hours.

The junior doctors held a protest rally from SSKM Hospital to Esplanade. They were seen blocking a road during the rally, alleging one of their colleagues was assaulted by the Kolkata police.

The junior doctors have been protesting against the rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August.

"We are calling off our 'total cease work'. But we will continue our sit-in protest. We will give the state administration 24 hours to fulfill our demands or else we will start a hunger strike till death," an agitating doctor, Debasish Halder of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, said.

The doctors held clocks in their hands as they reiterated their demands, which includes the directive to form a central enquiry committee for disciplinary proceedings against those involved in "threat culture" in medical colleges across West Bengal.

Other demands include installation of CCTV cameras on hospital premises, stricter protocols to avoid any violent incidents against medics, and round-the-clock security of the healthcare professionals.

Junior Doctors Take Out Mega Protest March On Mahalaya

On October 2, scores of junior doctors held a mega protest march demanding justice for the medic who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital. The protest march, organised by the Bengal Junior Doctors' Front, was joined by people from all walks of life. 

The doctors vowed to continue their protest till the state government acted decisively. The march began at College Street and ended in Esplanade area, marking a fresh escalation of the doctors' ongoing agitation for improved safety measures for healthcare workers.

"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," said one of the protesters, identifying herself as a colleague of the deceased.

According to the Hindu calendar, 'Mahalaya' marks the beginning of 'Devi Paksha', and the start of Durga Puja celebrations.

The protestors were seen carrying placards, and national flags, and raising slogans, stressing that they would not rest until justice was served.

The march was conducted amid a 'cease-work' by the doctors in hospitals as part of protest against the rape and murder of their colleague. The protesters, mostly junior doctors, had been on a 'cease work' since Tuesday, accusing the Bengal government of failing to fulfil promises made in mid-September.

They had earlier partially resumed services after 42-day strike, but they went back to 'cease-work', alleging that key demands including improved safety measures for medical staff had not been implemented by the Mamata government.