Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor from R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, meeting Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal at the police headquarters in Kolkata on Tuesday
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A delegation of junior doctors, protesting against the R.G. Kar rape and murder, met Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal on Tuesday (September 3, 2024) and handed over a letter demanding his resignation. They gifted him a replica of a human spine.
Hundreds of doctors, on a night-long protest near the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar, have been demanding the resignation of Mr. Goyal alleging police inaction in the case. After a 22-hour impasse, the police removed guardrails and barricades, and allowed the delegation of 22 doctors to meet the Commissioner.
While protesters took out demonstrations from nearby Phears Lane towards Lalbazar, the delegation representing the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front met Mr. Goyal in his office and held discussions for an hour.
Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor at the R.G. Kar hospital, and one of the representatives, said the Commissioner “gracefully received” their deputation document demanding his resignation.
“He admitted failure of the police regarding what happened on August 12 (‘renovation work’ near the crime scene) and August 14 (attack on R.G. Kar hospital). We discussed other irregularities surrounding cordoning off of the crime scene and evidence tampering,” Dr. Mahato said after the meeting. “He listened to us and said he was satisfied with the work of the police, but if his superiors ask him to resign, he would do so gladly,” he said.
Junior doctors stage a protest against the alleged sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata RG Kar Hospital, in Kolkata on Monday, September 2.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
“We read out our list of demands to the Police Commissioner, including that of his resignation, and gave him a copy as well. We asked him why the crime scene was violated, and he could not give us satisfactory answers,” Kinjal Nanda, a representative of the junior doctors, said. “Finally, we gave him the human spine replica as a gift and took our leave from there.”
Dr. Mahato and Dr. Nanda said while protesters outside Lalbazar would disperse, the movement demanding justice for the victim would continue.
“Our demand for justice and ceasework protest will continue. On Wednesday (September 4, 2024) between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., the junior doctors have called for everyone to switch off lights and light a candle or a diya. Let us all unite in our demand for justice,” Dr. Mahato said.
15-km-long human chain
On Tuesday (September 3, 2024) evening, healthcare workers from various private hospitals formed a human chain along the EM Bypass, extending from Patuli to Ultadanga, demanding justice for the victim. The human chain spanned over 15 kilometres and seven zones including Patuli Jhil Park, Ajoy Nagar, Mukundapur, Ruby More, Science City, Chingrighata and Mani Square.
Health professionals and activists shout slogans and hold posters as they form a long human chain during a demonstration to condemn the rape and murder of a doctor, along a street in Kolkata on September 3, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Thousands of citizens joined the human chain and commuters chanted “we want justice” as they passed by the protesters. “We should not forget the need for justice even when Durga Puja arrives,” one of the protesters said.