Page 4 - Kolkata

RG Kar case overshadows Durga Puja festival in WB, celebrations unlikely

Durga puja, West Bengal's biggest carnival, is likely to be subdued this year as calls to boycott the festivities grow in response to protests over the brutal rape-murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar hospital in August, casting a shadow over the city's festive spirit. The killing of the doctor on duty at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 has ignited profound emotional turmoil across the state, as the vibrant excitement of Durga puja has been overshadowed by the troubling paradox of worshipping the goddess of strength and protection while real-life women continue to face grave dangers. As Kolkata grapples with this tragedy, the city stands at a crossroads between tradition and change, torn between devotion to the goddess Durga, symbolising strength, protection, and justice, and the harsh reality of daily violence and injustice faced by women. It appears that this year's Durga puja will be much more subdued due to the RG Kar incident and the ongoing protests

RG Kar case: Docs continue sit-in, wait for state to fulfill their demands

Despite calling off their 'total cease work' on Friday evening, agitating junior doctors continued their sit-in in central Kolkata throughout the night alleging that police lathi-charged a few of them during a rally to press for justice for the deceased woman doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The junior doctors called off their 'total cease work' at state-run medical colleges and hospitals around 8.30 pm on Friday, but threatened to launch a hunger strike till death if their demands were not met by the West Bengal government within 24 hours. "When you are fighting for a significant cause, you cannot expect things to be easy. We anticipated better treatment from the state government. The lathi charge and the verbal abuse from police were both unnecessary, and we demand an apology," Debasish Halder, a representative of the protesting junior medics, told PTI. "We will not vacate this place until that is provided," he added. Medics from RG Kar Medical College, alongside the

RG Kar case: Arrested doc Pandey in CBI custody; Ghosh to judicial remand

A court here on Friday sent arrested former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, and now-suspended police officer Abhijit Mondal to 14-day judicial custody. A special CBI court also sent another doctor, Ashish Pandey, to three-day custody of the central agency till October 7. Producing Ghosh and Mondal before Alipore court here, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claimed that Ghosh had conspired with Mondal to suppress the incident of rape and murder of an on-duty woman medic at the hospital. The central probe agency cited findings of the forensic tests conducted on the mobile phone devices of the duo and pleaded before the court for their custody for further questioning, official sources said. Stating that the investigation into the rape-murder incident "was underway in full swing", the CBI also claimed that Ghosh tried to mislead investigators by describing the doctor's death as a case of suicide, they said. The agency also claimed that Ghosh w

Even as cities worldwide modernise trams, India consigns them to museums

With the state government announcing its decision to eliminate tram services, a network that has shrunk rapidly since the nineties, fleeting images come to mind

RG Kar case: WB's doctors hold meeting to decide future course of action

Agitating junior doctors in West Bengal went into a huddle late on Thursday to decide their future course of action after a section of senior medics urged them to reconsider their 'complete cease work' in light of the sufferings of ordinary patients. The junior doctors renewed their 'cease work' on October 1 after an attack on medics by a patient's family at the state-run College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital in the last week of September. Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating doctors, told reporters, "We will hold a general body meeting at R G Kar hospital shortly. It may take time, but we will inform you of our decision by early tomorrow morning." Asked if they would consider a partial withdrawal of the agitation due to the ongoing sufferings of patients, the flood situation, and the upcoming Durga Puja festival, Mahato responded, "We will discuss everything. We need to assess the current situation since our demands for security have so far not been addressed by the ...

RG Kar case: North Bengal Medical College holds torch-light rally

Meanwhile, doctors from private hospitals lit earthen lamps at Ganga Ghat in Kolkata as a mark of protest against the same incident

RG Kar case: Healthcare services affected in WB as medics resume cease work

Healthcare services were affected in West Bengal as junior doctors continued their cease work on Wednesday over a host of demands, including proper security at state-run hospitals in the wake of the rape and murder and of their colleague. The junior doctors went on to cease work after the body of their colleague was found at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. They partially returned to work on September 21 after 42 days, resuming essential services after the government promised to address most of their concerns. However, alleging that the government did not fulfil its promises, the doctors went on to cease work on Tuesday. "The cease work is going on as of now. However, there is a possibility of reconsidering the complete cease work as a section of senior doctors has different opinions about it. We will hold meetings with all stakeholders to decide the way forward as we too don't want to stay away from work unless the situation compels us," Subhendu Mallick, one of

Kolkata doctor case: Junior doctors resume strike; know why

Kolkata RG Kar case: Doctors resume 'indefinite strike', list 10 demands

Kolkata rape-murder case: Junior doctors resumed their indefinite 'total cease work' on October 1 and criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation for the slow pace of their inquiry

Bengal junior doctors resume 'total cease work', to hold march on Oct 2

Agitating junior doctors in West Bengal resumed their indefinite 'total cease work' on Tuesday to press for various demands, including ensuring their safety and security at all medical establishments. The junior doctors had on September 21 rejoined their duties partially at government hospitals after a 42-day protest. They were on a 'cease work' agitation to protest the rape and murder of an on-duty woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. "We do not see any positive approach from the state government to fulfill our demands for safety and security. Today is the 52nd day of the protest (since August 9) and we are still being attacked and there is no attempt to keep the other promises made during the meetings with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In the given situation, we are left with no option other than opting for full cease work, starting today," Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating junior doctors, told PTI. "Unless we see clear action from the state ...

WB: 4 detained after junior docs protest at Sagore Dutta Medical College

West Bengal Health Secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam also visited the hospital to meet with the junior doctors and nurses

West Bengal govt to discontinue Kolkata's 150-year-old tram service

Tram services in Kolkata are being terminated due to traffic issues, except for one route from Esplanade to Maidan

Docs' cease work stir at WB hospital continues after patient kin's assault

Junior doctors and nurses continued their 'cease work' agitation at state-run Sagar Dutta Hospital in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Saturday in protest against assault on staffers by the relatives of a patient. The staffers of the hospital located in Kamarhati near Kolkata launched the 'cease work' protest late on Friday after some of them were allegedly beaten up by the relatives of the patient who died during treatment. Three junior doctors along with three nurses and healthcare workers were injured in the incident, a junior doctor said. The junior doctors and nurses subsequently called for a 'cease work' stir demanding better security arrangements. The condition of the patient, a middle-aged woman who suffered from acute breathing problems, was critical, he said. "The patient was admitted to the hospital on Friday with breathing difficulties. Her condition was not good and healthcare workers attempted to administer oxygen but it was too late and she died. But her

Kolkata trams: From city lifeline to heritage relic and future symbol

151 years on, the ding-ding is fading; will nostalgia and activism keep the wheels turning?

RG Kar case 'frightening', women need safer working conditions: Kiran Rao

Filmmaker Kiran Rao, whose 'Laapataa Ladies' has been chosen as India's official entry for the 2025 Oscars, said that she stands firmly with those who raised their voice demanding justice for the deceased medic of RG Kar hospital. On the sidelines of a programme of Ladies Study Group of the Indian Chamber of Commerce here on Friday, Rao told PTI that the August 9 incident was "regrettable and frightening". "I stand in solidarity with all the women, all the people who have come out on the streets of Kolkata and protested and raised their voice to have safer working conditions for women," she said. "Students, doctors and everyone in society stood in solidarity and protested, I am with them," Rai said. About the selection of 'Laapataa Ladies' as the country's official entry for the Oscars next year, Rao said the choosing of the film is itself is an award. The movie, which was released on March 1 this year, tells the story of the misadventures of two young brides who get lost from the

West Bengal to hire 12,000 police officers for enhanced hospital security

The recruitment process is set to commence on September 30, following discussions with leaders from medical colleges and hospitals

WB launches control room for uninterrupted power supply during Durga Puja

To ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the Durga Puja festival in the second week of October, the West Bengal government launched a 24x7 Puja control room and a dedicated WhatsApp service. The initiative was inaugurated by State Power Minister Aroop Biswas here on Thursday. The control room will operate throughout the festival period, extending until Jagaddhatri Puja in November second week. Citizens can contact the control room at the following numbers for WBSEDCL power: 8900793503 and 8900793504. For CESC customers, the control room can be reached at 98310 79666 or 98310 83700. The newly launched WhatsApp service, available at 8433719121, provides various features for customers, including bill information, bill viewing and downloading, payment options, new connection applications, quotation inquiries, power outage reporting, and energy-saving tips, Biswas said.

RG Kar case: New officer-in-charge of Tala Police Station appointed

Abhijit Mondal, was suspended by the Kolkata Police on September 18 after his arrest by the CBI

CBI: Kolkata rape-murder documents were altered at police station

RG Kar case: Ex-principal, Tala Police officer sent to Presidency Jail

Both Ghosh and Mondal were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar