Junior doctors and medical students from various colleges in Kolkata are continuing their indefinite sit-in demonstration near the Kolkata Police headquarters, demanding the resignation of Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal. The protest, which began on Monday afternoon, is in response to the alleged mishandling of the initial investigation into the rape and murder case at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Despite a nightlong protest under the open sky, the demonstrators showed no signs of fatigue as they resumed their sit-in on Tuesday morning. The protesting doctors expressed their dissatisfaction with the city police’s “lackadaisical” approach in the early stages of the investigation, which was later taken over by the CBI following an order from the Calcutta High Court.
One of the junior doctors participating in the demonstration remarked, “As doctors, we are used to working long hours without sleep. The city police may be testing our patience, but we will remain on the streets without food or water until our demands are met.”
The protest gained momentum on Monday night as a few Bengali film celebrities, who have been vocal about the case, joined the junior doctors in solidarity, spending the night with them on the streets. Throughout the demonstration, the protesters chanted slogans demanding justice for the victim and called for the resignation of the police commissioner. Some even sang revolutionary songs to uplift the spirits of the demonstrators.
The arrest of the former and controversial principal of R.G. Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, by the CBI on Monday evening provided a temporary boost to the morale of the protesters. However, they remain steadfast in their demand for the police commissioner’s resignation due to what they perceive as negligence by the city police in the initial investigation.
In related developments, Sandip Ghosh and three others, arrested by the CBI in connection with a financial irregularities scam at R.G. Kar Medical College, are scheduled to appear in a special court in Kolkata on Tuesday morning. Their medical examinations were completed shortly after their arrests.
