Kolkata Doctor Death: RG Kar Principal Resigns, Medicos Call Nationwide Strikes

After the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, the superintendent of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital has been removed. Doctors across India are protesting for adequate security for medical staff.

Kolkata Doctor Death Case: Days after the gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the state-run institute's principal, Dr Sandip Ghosh has resigned from his post. The West Bengal Health Department has also ordered the removal of its medical superintendent-cum-vice principal Dr Sanjay Vashisth. The body of the 32-year-old woman was found in the seminar hall of the government-run hospital on Thursday night. As per the victim's initial autopsy report, she bled from her eyes, mouth and private parts. Injuries were also found on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger and lips.

Announcing his resignation, Dr Ghosh said, "I am getting defamed on social media...The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign...I don't like that this should happen to anyone in future..."

Since the mishap,  various sections, including the agitating house staff and medical students have raised questions on whether college authorities could deny his responsibilities in the matter. Addressing the concerns, the state government has transferred Vashisth as a professor at the National Medical College and Hospital and asked Dr Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, dean of student affairs, to carry out his responsibilities, according to a report by the news agency IANS. 

RG Kar Doctor Death Case Updates

• Three junior doctors and one house staff, who were on duty on the night of the incident, were summoned by Kolkata police Headquarters in Lalbazar, news agency ANI reported quoting sources.


• Meanwhile, doctors of several hospitals across India have announced an indefinite strike, after FORDA (Federation of Resident Doctors Association) called for a nationwide protest against the woman doctor's rape and murder at RG Kar Hospital. Doctors in Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata among other cities have announced the halt of all elective services till a probe is completed in the case. The protesters are also demanding adequate security for all medical staff across hospitals. 


• In Maharastra, the BMC MARD (Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors) also demanded the immediate appointment of a central agency to investigate the case. 


• Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) AIIMS Delhi staged a protest in support of the woman doctor who was sexually assaulted and murdered in RG Kar Medical College.
  
  
  


• Amid the doctors' protest, the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital authorities have sent a communique to the two outsourced security agencies providing staff to the hospital to ensure that all scavenging workers working under the agencies wear designated uniforms and sport their identity cards without any exception with immediate effect.


• Hospital authorities have also issued an order cancelling all leaves except prior approved ones for all categories of staff at the institute. As per the IANS report, the leaves have been cancelled because anyone might be requested for questioning by the special investigation team and internal committee running the parallel probe in the case. 


• The hospital authorities have already suspended two security personnel who were on duty on the night the mishap took place.


• The Kolkata Police has already arrested the accused under sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the BNS and produced him before Sealdah court, which remanded him to police custody till August 23.