Page 2 - All India Doctors Strike

Female medics need central law for safety, say doctors at Jantar Mantar

Doctors in the national capital gathered at Jantar Mantar Saturday to protest against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital, asserting that without a central law to protect healthcare workers, female doctors would never feel safe during work. Protestors began gathering at Jantar Mantar from 3 pm onwards to demand justice for the victim of the incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and press the government to expedite the enactment of the Central Healthcare Protection Act, doctor associations said. Dr Deepika, a protesting doctor, told PTI, "I will never allow my daughters to become doctors here... Can you imagine that all of us female doctors are scared now? We feel fearful while working, and we need protection. Can you imagine if she was raped and murdered at her workplace?" "We want protection so that all female doctors can work again without fear," she said. Chairman of Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) Rohan Krishnan said they ha

IMA again asks for central law on violence against doctors, hospitals

The IMA has written to the National Task Force (NTF), which has been mandated to formulate protocol for ensuring safety and security of healthcare professionals, again demanding a central law on violence against doctors and hospitals and declaring hospitals as safe zones. Stating that the Supreme Court has constituted the NTF to evolve a national consensus and to formulate protocols with due consultation of all stakeholders, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in its letter formulated its submission in three sections. The NTF was constituted the apex court in the wake of protests by doctors and healthcare professionals following the recent rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Firstly, putting forth its demand and justification for a central act on violence on doctors and hospitals, the IMA submitted its study 'Safety During Night Duty: Survey of 3885 Doctors Across India", its draft proposal for Central Act, dra

Kolkata rape-murder case: Doctors to hold protest at Jantar Mantar today

The doctors have also been demanding better security laws for healthcare professionals

Audio clips from RG Kar hospital to victim's parents spark controversy

Three purported audio recordings of phone calls, allegedly made by RG Kar Medical College authorities on August 9 morning to the parents of the rape-murder victim asking them to report to the hospital, hit the public domain on Thursday and sparked a fresh controversy over "insensitivity" and "disinformation" of the institute's management in breaking bad news. The changes in statements on the status of the victim made by an official in those phone calls, whose authenticity PTI has not individually verified, raise questions on whether the hospital was initially trying to cover up the ghastly crime. The caller, a woman who identified herself as the assistant superintendent of the hospital, reportedly dialed the parents of the victim from the same number thrice within a span of around 30 minutes asking their urgent presence at the facility. "I am calling from RG Kar hospital. Can you come over immediately?" the caller could be heard telling the victim's father when he picked his phone t

IMA suspends former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh's membership

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday suspended the membership of former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Dr Sandip Ghosh, amid a CBI probe into the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at the Kolkata-based institute earlier this month. The decision to suspend the IMA membership of Ghosh, who is the vice president of the association's Kolkata branch, was taken by its disciplinary committee. In an order, the Indian Medical Association said the committee constituted by IMA national president Dr R V Asokan on Wednesday suo-motu considered the rape and murder case of the postgraduate resident doctor and the subsequent developments at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The IMA general secretary along with Asokan had met the victim's parents at their home, it said. "They had put up their grievances against you (Ghosh) in dealing with the situation as well as lack of empathy and sensitivity in handling the issue in appropriate manner befitting the ...

Police use force as BJP protests against students' arrest during rally

Police used teargas and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse BJP leaders and supporters when they marched towards Kolkata Police headquarters Lalbazar demanding the release of students arrested during the Nabanna Abhijan rally on Tuesday. The rally was called for demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the wake of the recent rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at state-run R G Kar Medical College. The police action began after BJP supporters attempted to break police barricades to enter Lal Bazaar. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, who led the march, fell ill after being exposed to teargas and subsequently left the scene. Earlier a BJP procession led by Majumdar was stopped from advancing towards Lal Bazar. In response, Majumdar, along with local BJP leaders, sat in protest at the barricade around 4:30 PM, demanding that the police clarify their stance on the arrests and seeking unconditional release of the students arrested during the Naban

Kolkata medic rape-murder: CBI seeks polygraph test of city police ASI

The CBI has sought permission from a Kolkata court to conduct a polygraph test on city police assistant sub-inspector Anup Dutta who was said to be close to Sanjay Roy, the arrested accused in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar medical college, officials said Tuesday. The CBI is exploring if Dutta helped Roy in any cover up of the crime, they said. According to reports, Dutta was allegedly instrumental in extending various favours to Roy, they said. The central probe agency is trying to find out if Roy told Dutta about the crime and received any help, they said. They said the court would decide the application for a polygraph test after seeking Dutta's consent on the issue. The CBI completed polygraph tests on former principal of the medical college Sandip Ghosh on Tuesday, the third day of subjecting him to a series of Deception Detection Tests (DDT), they said. He underwent a Layered Voice Analysis test on Saturday, followed by a polygraph test on Monday. The tes

Goa sets up task force committee for safety of medical professionals

Goa is the first state to announce the setting up of a task force committee dedicated to safety of medical professionals, minister Vishwajit Rane said on Monday. The announcement about the committee, which comes in the backdrop of the August 9 rape-murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, was made earlier in the day. "Goa has become the first state to set up such a committee. In line with Supreme Court's guidelines, we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of doctors at Goa Medical College (GMC). The task force will be chaired by GMC Dean Dr SM Bandekar," he said. "Its members will be Heads of Departments from Forensic Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pathology, Respiratory Medicine, Emergency and Trauma, Psychiatry, as well as the Director of Academics, the Hospital Matron, representatives from the Student Council, the Advisor to the Health Minister etc," Rane added. Apart from this, the demands of the Goa Association of Resident Doctors' (GARD), like enhancing ...

Kolkata medic death: Several Durga Puja committees reject govt's honorarium

As calls for justice for the RG Kar victim intensify, several Durga Puja committees in West Bengal have rejected the Rs 85,000 honorarium offered by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying they cannot accept help from the government when women have taken to the streets demanding security. Rina Das, president of Bhadrakali Bouthan Sangha in Hooghly, explained, "We have decided to boycott this grant this year to honour the sentiments of our members who are deeply upset over the brutal attack on the postgraduate trainee doctor at her workplace. We had received this grant for several years in the past." Prasenjit Bhattacharya from Uttarpara Shakti Sangha echoed similar sentiments, saying, "This is a symbolic protest. We will not accept the money until those involved in this heinous crime are apprehended and brought to justice." Other committees, including Lalgola Krishnapur Sanyasitala in Murshidabad and Bethuadahari Town Club in Nadia, have also notified local authorities of their decisi

CBI names RG Kar Hospital's former principal Sandip Ghosh in corruption FIR

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in the FIR the agency has filed in connection with its probe into the alleged financial irregularities at the institution during his tenure. The agency has slapped Section 120B of IPC (criminal conspiracy) read with Section 420 IPC (cheating and dishonesty) and Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018) which covers unlawful acceptance of gratification by a public servant. The cases read together account for cognisable offences and are non-bailable in nature, a senior Calcutta High Court lawyer said. Besides Ghosh, the CBI has also registered cases against one M/s Ma Tara Traders of Madhya Jorehat, Banipur, Howrah, M/s Eshan Cafe of 4/1, H/1, JK Ghosh Road, Belgachhia, Kolkata and one M/s Khama Louha. The FIR was lodged on the basis of a written complaint lodged by Debal Kumar Ghosh, special secretary to the state health department. PTI

CBI takes over probe into 'financial irregularities' at RG Kar College

The CBI on Saturday took over the case of alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata during the tenure of former principal Sandip Ghosh, officials said. The action came on the directions of the Calcutta High Court which transferred the probe to the agency from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT). The CBI collected necessary documents from the SIT on Saturday and proceeded to re-register the FIR, the official said. The high court had issued directives on a petition by former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Akhtar Ali, who requested a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged financial misconduct at the medical college during the tenure of Ghosh. The college has come into media glare following the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor on the campus on August 9, they said. The high court had directed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigation within three weeks. The

Doctor's rape-murder: Polygraph test on main accused, 6 others begins

The lie detection tests on the main accused and six others in the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital began on Saturday, officials said. The polygraph test on Sanjay Roy, the main accused, is being conducted in the prison where he is lodged, while the remaining six, including former principal Sandip Ghosh and four doctors who were on duty during the night of the incident and a civic volunteer, are undergoing the test at the agency's office in Kolkata, they said. Ghosh arrived at the CBI's office at CGO Complex in Salt Lake on Saturday morning for the ninth day consecutive day, and was then taken for the test, the officials said. Those undergoing the lie detection test include two first-year postgraduate trainees, as investigators allegedly found their fingerprints inside a seminar hall at the state-run medical facility where the medic's body was discovered, an official said. A team of polygraph specialists from the Central ..

News Highlights: India ever ready to play active role in peace efforts, Modi assures Zelenskyy

Latest news updates: Catch all the news developments from around the world here

Kolkata rape: Relief to patients as doctors' associations call off strike

The protests by resident doctors at government hospitals in several states across the country ended on Thursday as major doctors' associations called off their 11-day strike over the rape-murder of a trainee medic in Kolkata after the Supreme Court made an appeal to them to resume work. However, in West Bengal, the epicentre of the protests, healthcare services remained affected at state-run hospitals as agitating junior doctors said they would continue their ceasework. "We have decided to continue our ceasework because justice is yet to be delivered. The Supreme Court has avoided the justice part. We must not forget that getting justice for our sister is our prime goal," one of the protesting doctors told PTI. In the national capital, doctors at major hospitals, including AIIMS, RML, LNJP and Maulana Azad Medical College, ended their strike that commenced on August 12. Following the apex court's appeal and directions about safety of doctors, the Federation of Resident Doctors ...

Maha doctors end stir after CM assurances on security, working conditions

Resident doctors in Maharashtra withdrew their agitation on Thursday following the state government's assurances to take measures for their security, 10 days after they struck work demanding better workplace conditions in the wake of the brutal rape and murder of a trainee medico in Kolkata. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured resident doctors that measures would be taken with utmost sensitivity about their security at workplace. Following the assurance, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), which was spearheading the strike after the August 9 Kolkata rape-murder horror, announced calling off their agitation, an official release said here. During the strike, the resident doctors, who sought speedy justice for the family of the Kolkata victim, stayed away from attending non-emergency medical services at public hospitals in the state. Shinde also assured positive action on their demands for availability of hostels and regular payment of stipend, said the release. .

Kolkata rape-murder: CBI seeks polygraph test of ex-principal, 4 others

The CBI on Thursday sought a polygraph test on former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and four other doctors in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at the medical facility, officials said. The CBI took Ghosh and four other junior doctors, who were on duty on the date of the incident on August 9, to the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's court at Sealdah in north Kolkata, for seeking its permission to conduct the lie detection test on them, they said. The test can only be done after permission from the court and the consent of the suspect, the officials said. An in-camera closed-door hearing on the matter took place before the ACJM this evening. The CBI has already prayed for a polygraph test on the arrested Kolkata Police civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, the prime suspect in the case, and is awaiting the court's nod for going ahead with the test. On Thursday, the Supreme Court set a 5 pm deadline on Friday inside which th

Aiims, RML's doctors call off 11-day strike after SC appeal, assurances

Doctors at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday announced that they were calling off their 11-day strike, to protest the rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor, following an appeal from the Supreme Court. The apex court earlier in the day asked protesting doctors to resume work and assured them that no adverse action would be taken after they rejoin. "We are resuming duties following the Supreme Court's appeal and assurances and intervention in the RG Kar incident and safety for doctors . We commend the Court's action and call for adherence to its directives. Patient care remains our top priority," the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association said in a post on X. On August 12, doctor associations started a nationwide protest, halting OPD services. Emergency services continued as usual. The brutal assault and murder of the junior doctor sparked nationwide protests. Her body was found on August 9 with severe injury marks inside the seminar hall of the state-run

Health ministry issues office memorandum on task force for medicos' safety

The panel will be headed by Cabinet Secretary, Government of India as its Chairperson has been constituted following the Supreme Court's direction on August 20

Kolkata murder: Resident doctors to protest at Jantar Mantar on day 10

Resident doctors will stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday, the 10th day of their indefinite strike over the alleged rape and murder of a medic in a Kolkata hospital. Elective services in several government hospitals across the city have remained suspended due to the protests. AIIMS, GTB, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, Maulana Azad Medical College and its associated hospitals ?have released individual statements urging participation in the silent protest. After the Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday, the central government-run RML Hospital had called off the strike, saying, "The Ministry of Health and the Medical Superintendent's office have assured that all necessary permissions for enhanced security measures at medical institutions have been obtained with a 45-day timeline set for implementation." However, within an hour, the RML RDA clarified, "There was some miscommunication, and we apologize for the same. We want to clarify that we stand

Kolkata doc rape-murder: SC orders removal of name, photo, video of victim

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the removal of the name, photos and videos of a trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, from all social media platforms. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said disclosure of the identity of a victim of sexual assault is a violation of its order passed in the Nipun Saxena case. "The pictures and video clips of the body of the deceased has been circulating on social media...we direct that name, photographs and video clippings of the deceased be immediately removed from all social media platforms," the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by lawyer Kinnori Ghosh and others against the disclosure of the victim medic's identity on social media. Earlier in the day, the apex court had said it was deeply concerned that the name of the deceased, who was assaulted and murdered, was published all over social ...