Widespread Protests in Kolkata as CBI Questions RG Kar Ex-Principal

Protestors from various backgrounds joined the junior doctors' agitation in Kolkata, demanding justice for the alleged rape and murder of a medic from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protests disrupted public healthcare services across West Bengal. Despite no new arrests, the CBI continued questioning top officials of the hospital.

Government Actions and Demands

The West Bengal government removed senior officials from RG Kar Hospital, as demanded by the protesting junior doctors. State health secretary NS Nigam confirmed this action. Senior doctors, nurses, and medical students marched to Shwasthya Bhavan, the state health department headquarters, to submit a memorandum.

A junior doctor expressed frustration over the absence of the newly-appointed principal, Dr Surhita Pal. "Our newly-appointed principal Dr Surhita Pal has gone missing. She is supposed to be our guardian but she has not turned up at the campus since the night the hospital was vandalised. We have heard that she is operating out of Shwasthya Bhavan. So we are headed there to find her out," he said.

CBI Investigation and Legal Actions

The CBI interrogated former RG Kar hospital principal Sandip Ghosh for the sixth consecutive day. They also summoned other top officials, including current superintendent Bulbul Mukhopadhyay and her predecessor Sanjay Vasishth. Investigators aimed to verify inconsistencies in Ghosh's statements before submitting their progress report to the Supreme Court.

A former deputy superintendent of RG Kar moved the Calcutta High Court seeking an ED investigation into Ghosh's alleged financial irregularities. The court allowed Dr Akhtar Ali to file his petition, which will be heard later this week. Ali had previously lodged multiple complaints against Ghosh in 2023.

Security Measures and Political Protests

Following a Supreme Court order, a CISF team inspected security arrangements at RG Kar Medical College on Wednesday. This visit came after a Union home ministry directive to deploy CISF at the hospital.

In a separate incident, West Bengal Pradesh Congress workers clashed with police while marching towards Kolkata Police headquarters demanding Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal's resignation. Senior Congress leaders Abdul Mannan and Pradip Bhattacharya were detained during the protest.

An ABVP rally in Siliguri turned violent when activists confronted police who allegedly seized posters of Mamata Banerjee intended for burning as effigies. Meanwhile, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari led a torch-lit protest in central Kolkata's Moulali area, joined by filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and other party leaders.

Agnihotri criticised Banerjee's handling of the case, questioning why RG Kar's principal was quickly reassigned after removal. "Why was the principal of RG Kar so quickly reinstated to another hospital following removal from his previous institution?" he asked.

Nationwide Solidarity

In Delhi, resident doctors protested at Jantar Mantar on the 10th day of their indefinite strike over the alleged rape and murder of the medic. "It's very important to understand that we are fighting for better working conditions in our own workplace," one protesting doctor said.

Kolkata saw multiple protests, including one by sports professionals in Maidan, another by Calcutta High Court lawyers, and one by scientists and staff from Bose Institute in Salt Lake.

The ongoing protests highlight widespread discontent with public healthcare management in West Bengal and demand accountability from authorities involved in administrative lapses.