Kolkata Doctors' Protest Live Updates: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee invites junior docs for talks; protesters call invitation 'insulting'

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Protests continue as docs defy SC order, refuse CM Mamata Banerjee's talks offer

Protesting junior doctors in West Bengal defied a Supreme Court order, asking them to resume work by 5 pm on Tuesday, and said they would continue with their protest till their demands were fulfilled and the rape and murder victim of the RG Kar Hospital was given justice.

As the medicos continued to protest for the 32nd day on Tuesday, demanding the removal of the Kolkata police commissioner and several top state health department officials, the state government said chief minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the protesters, inviting them for a meeting at the secretariat to resolve the impasse over the incident.

However, the protesting doctors said the mail for the meeting was from the state health secretary, whose resignation they were seeking, and termed it as "insulting". They also said that restricting the number of representatives to attend the meeting to 10 was "humiliating".

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: 'When we are sitting here, then why are you calling us there?'

On West Bengal government's email to protesting doctors for a meeting, Dr Aqeeb says, "The e-mail we have got from the Principal Secretary states that we should go to Nabanna with 10 representatives and meet them. Our demands are clear. We have been protesting for the last 31 days and our demands are clear even to the locals. When we are sitting here, then why are you calling us there? We will reply to them."

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: 'CM waited but nothing came from agitating doctors', said Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya

West Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said, "Yesterday, Supreme Court gave an order saying that the students agitating should come back to work by 5 pm today. The CM and government waited till 5 pm. Thereafter, at 5 pm our administrative officers reached the opinion that 10 doctors could come and talk to the supreme authority in the state. At 6.10 pm, an email was sent to them by the Principal Secretary to come to Nabanna. Till 7.30 pm, the CM waited but nobody came from agitating doctors' side. At 7.30 pm the CM left the premises of Nabanna. She has been requesting junior doctors to return to their services but we have found out that the agitating doctors have not returned to work."

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Agitating junior doctors say mail by health secy calling for a meeting is 'insulting'

The agitating doctors said that a 'mail from Bengal health secretary for a meeting, whose resignation they were demanding, is insulting'. The also said that it was 'humiliating for them that the number of representatives for the meeting with state government was restricted to 10.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee invites agitating junior doctors for meet

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee invites agitating junior doctors for meeting at state secretariat to resolve impasse over RG Kar issue: Official

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: What TMC leader Shatrughan Sinha said on demands raised by protesters

“Mamata Banerjee took immediate action in this case. Bengal Police worked with maturity and arrested the accused in a timely manner. Some people are asking for the resignations of Bengal Police Commissioner and Mamata Banerjee, but why? If action was not taken then this would have been justified,” TMC leader Shatrughan Sinha.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Docs continue protests despite SC order

A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court on Monday observed that unless the junior doctors return to duty by 5 pm on Tuesday, the apex court would be unable to intervene if the West Bengal government initiates any proceedings against them in the matter.

Echoing the observation of the apex court, state chief minister Mamata Banerjee too, earlier in the day issued an appeal to the junior doctors to rejoin duty.

However, the junior doctors who had announced their decision to continue with the protests on Monday night itself, marched to the state health department headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: What officials from West Bengal's health department said on addressing demands

Officials from West Bengal's health department told Reuters that the protesters' concerns, including additional CCTV coverage, deployment of female security personnel, adequate lighting, toilets, and resting spaces, were being addressed.

"Funds have been released but it will certainly not meet the deadline of today (Tuesday)," said a senior official who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

"It will take some time for these things to happen on the ground."

West Bengal: Doctors hold protest near Swasthya Bhavan in Kolkata, demanding justice for RG Kar medical college and hospital rape and murder incident.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Bengal government must clean health sector', say Junior doctors

"We are holding a peaceful march. We have specified our demands for justice for the victim and resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner, the state Health Secretary, Director of Health Education (DHE), and Director of Health Services (DHS). If the state government meets our demands, we will think about joining duty," one of the protesting doctors said.

"We want the state government to 'clean' the health sector. We are carrying the brooms to initiate the cleaning programme. We will wait till 5 pm for the state to fulfill our demands, failing which we will start a sit-in. We are, however, open to any kind of discussion with the state government," he added.

Doctors protesting against the Kolkata rape and murder victim flouted the Supreme Court's direction to join duties by 5 PM on Tuesday stating that they would carry on with 'cease work' till their demands are met.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: 'Mamata Banerjee deliberately botched up RG Kar rape-murder probe', says Tarun Chugh

BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh on Tuesday demanded the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government to come clean on why the registration of an FIR in the RG Kar rape and murder case was delayed by 14 hours.

In a statement, Chugh said the Mamata government has been trying to scuttle the investigation in one way or the other, as he asked why the post-mortem report was missing from the challan filed by the police in the case.

The chief minister, he claimed, has seriously botched up the investigation in the case to shield some police officers.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: 'We will continue with the cease work as our demands are not fulfilled', said agitating doctors

The court passed the direction after the West Bengal government assured it that no action, including punitive transfers, shall be taken against the protesting doctors on resumption of work.

"We will continue with the cease work as our demands are not fulfilled. We had asked the state government to remove the Kolkata Police Commissioner, health secretary, director of health services and the director of medical education by 5 PM. We are open to discussion," one of the agitating doctors told PTI.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Kolkata doctors will not return to work until rape case demands met

Junior doctors in West Bengal state have vowed to keep up a strike in protest at the rape and murder of a trainee doctor unless their demands are met, defying a Supreme Court deadline for Tuesday.

While demonstrations in other states have been gradually called off after the Supreme Court formed a hospital safety task force, doctors in West Bengal, where the incident happened at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, have continued their protest.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front marched in Kolkata on Tuesday, with junior doctors from several medical colleges in the state lending support, to press its demands for justice for the victim and better security at hospitals.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Notice issued to 51 doctors of RG Kar, asked to be present before enquiry committee

The RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has issued a notice to 51 doctors for promoting a culture of intimidation, endangering the democratic atmosphere of the institution and has been asked to appear before the enquiry committee on September 11. They have to prove their innocence before the committee, the notice issued by the hospital authority said.

According to the decision made by the Special Council Committee of the RG Kar Hospital, access to the institution's campus is restricted for those 51 doctors unless summoned by the enquiry committee.

"Additionally, participation in college activities is prohibited," the notice signed by the hospital's principal said.

Ghosh, along with two vendors and his security personnel, was arrested by the probe agency for their alleged involvement in financial irregularities at the state-run hospital, where a post graduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered on August 9.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Junior doctors march towards Swasthya Bhawan, set 5 pm deadline for Bengal govt to fulfill demands

A week after staging a demonstration outside the Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar, hundreds of junior doctors marched towards Swasthya Bhawan on Tuesday demanding justice for the rape-murder victim at RG Kar Hospital and resignation of Kolkata CP and several health officials over the incident. Replicating the symbolism of carrying a model spine to Lalbazar last week, the protesting medics showcased brooms and even a model brain while marching towards the West Bengal health department headquarters in Sector 5 of Salt Lake, in their bid to "clean up" the state health sector and make the top brass "think" about the plight of the doctors.

The protesters set a deadline of 5 pm for the state government to accept their charter of five demands which includes the resignation of the Kolkata Police Commissioner, state Health Secretary, Director of Health Education (DHE), and Director of Health Services (DHS), failing which they said they would stage a sit-in in front of Swasthya Bhawan.

The deadline coincided with the Supreme Court's time limit to the agitating medics to resume their duties by 5 pm on Tuesday to avoid adverse action from the state government.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: CBI had accused Ghosh of operating a "criminal nexus"

Former RG Kar Hospital and College principal Sandip Ghosh had been operating "criminal nexus" with his co-accused which has caused wrongful loss to the government, the Central Bureau of Investigation had said, based on the findings of its probe in financial irregularities at the college.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Ex-RG Kar principal Ghosh, 3 aides sent to judicial custody till September 23

Accused persons in the RG Kar Medical College financial scam probe have been sent to judicial custody till September 23 by the special CBI court. Ghosh, along with Biplab Singha, Suman Hazra, and Afsar Ali, are also co-accused in the financial irregularities case.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: CBI produces ex-RG Kar principal in court

After completion of 8-day CBI custody, CBI produced former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh before Alipore judges court.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: If our demands are not fulfilled, we will continue to protest against the health department

Kolkata Doctor Murder Case: Victim’s kin stick to allegations

“The CM said we were lying and asked us to furnish proof. Should we have recorded a video when we were offered money? It is the CM who is making a false accusation. She had said we would receive some money and suggested we create something in memory of my daughter. I replied that I would come and collect it from her office once my daughter receives justice,” the victim’s mother said, adding that DC (North) had offered money after her daughter’s body had reached their Sodepur home on the evening of Aug 9.

Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case: "Unforgivable," "shame for entire society," says TMC leader Shatrughan Sinha

"The incident that occurred is a heinous crime, a matter of shame for the entire society. Such an incident is unforgivable... Our prayers are with the victim's family, and we hope that no family ever has to go through such a tragedy. Now that the matter is in the Supreme Court and the CBI is investigating, is there anything more we should say about this incident? I don't think so," says Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shatrughan Sinha

Kolkata doctor rape and murder: Bengal is not Bangladesh, says CM, slams ‘political opportunism’

Bengal was not the same as Bangladesh, CM Mamata Banerjee said on Monday, accusing “political opportunists” of trying to take advantage of the situation developing out of the RG Kar rape-murder and seeking to replicate the Bangladeshi unrest here to tarnish the state’s image.

A march to Swasthya Bhawan will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday demanding the resignations of the DME, DMS and the health secretary.

Kolkata Doctor Rape Case Updates Live: 2017 report on molestation charge against 'Sandip Ghosh' goes viral

A 2017 report published by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post about an Indian orthopaedic surgeon identified as Sandip Ghosh being accused of inappropriately touching a male student nurse there went viral Monday. It is unclear if the report was referring to RG Kar hospital's ex-principal. The West Bengal Orthopaedic Association said it was "looking into the report". Some members said they knew of Ghosh facing a "legal issue" during one of his trips aboard. Read more

'Protests wont die down': IMA after SC asks docs to resume work

Soon after Supreme Court directed the protesting junior doctors to resume work or face action, the Bengal IMA unit said it was "disheartened" by the the proceedings of the court and the CBI. In a statement, the medical body conveyed that the protests "wont die down" and promised to leave no stone unturned to seek justice.

“We were even more disheartened to learn that the Hon’ble Supreme Court has asked the junior doctors, who are the forerunners of this protest, to return to work by 5 pm tomorrow,” the medical body said in its statement.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court instructed the CBI to submit an updated status report on the investigation by September 16, while also directing the state government to ensure that proper facilities are provided for the CISF personnel stationed at RG Kar Hospital for security.

Kolkata doctor rape and murder: SC reprimands lawyer for raising voice

Are you trying to address the gallery outside the court?" an annoyed Supreme Court bench asked a lawyer and reprimanded him for his aggressive tone while making submissions on the Kolkata rape and murder of a trainee doctor. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took objection to the manner in which advocate Koustav Bagchi addressed the court.
"I have been noticing your demeanour for the last two hours. Don't raise your voice, lower your pitch. You are addressing three judges of the Supreme Court and not the views of the YouTube who are watching the proceedings live," Chief Justice Chandrachud told him sternly.

The angry reaction by Justice Candrachud came when Bagchi interjected while the bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was asking the West Bengal government to not take any adverse action against the protesting doctors if they resumed their duties tomorrow by 5 p.m.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, assured the court that no adverse action, including punitive transfers, would be taken.

Bagchi butted in when the bench and Sibal were exchanging views on the subject.

Kolkata Doctor Rape Case Updates Live: MAMC doctors organise blood donation drive in solidarity with Kolkata rape-murder case

Doctors from Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) organised a blood donation camp on Monday under the banner "Bleed for Abhaya," in a show of solidarity with the ongoing fight for justice following the rape and death of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata,
Vice President of the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) at MAMC, Dr. Tushar Sharma told PTI, "It's been a month since the horrifying incident that shook the entire medical community. We have organized this blood donation camp as a way to convey our support to the doctors of RG Kar Hospital and their fight for justice for the departed soul."

"We, as medical staff, cannot continue the strike for too long, as it will ultimately affect patient care which we cannot afford in the long run," he added.

"This blood donation drive is our way of continuing the fight for justice for fellow doctors and showing support to the protesters," Sharma said.

The blood donation camp was organised by the MAMC students on Monday under the banner "Let us all bleed for Abhaya.

Mamata's dirty face exposed in Supreme Court: BJP on Kolkata rape-murder case

The BJP on Monday pressed for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation, saying her "dirty face" was exposed in the Supreme Court during a hearing on a case pertaining to the rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor in Kolkata. The remarks came after the apex court voiced concern over the absence of a key document that was needed for the postmortem of the trainee woman doctor raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, and asked the CBI to investigate it.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud also flagged at least a 14-hour delay by the Kolkata Police in registering an FIR in the incident and directed the CBI to submit a fresh report on the probe by September 17.

"The Supreme Court has made scathing remarks, unveiling the dirty face of Mamata Banerjee... The CJI asked why postmortem challan was missing from the records," BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia told a press conference at the party headquarters here.

He described Banerjee as a "liar" and alleged that evidence in the case was destroyed at her behest.

Bhatia wondered if the said postmortem challan was not made part of the case record because it could have exposed the chief minister's bid to protect Dr Sandip Ghosh, who was the principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital at the time of the incident, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.

The CBI arrested Dr Ghosh on September 2 in connection with the alleged financial misconduct at the hospital.

Kolkata Doctor Rape Case Updates Live: Mamata Banerjee denies allegations of cover up in Kolkata rape-murder case

West Bengal chief minster on Monday came all-out in defense of her government and dismissed allegations of offering money to the deceased trainee doctor's family who was raped and murdered at a state-run hospital in Kolkata. The TMC supremo, who is under fire from various quarters, also defended her decision to not sack the Kolkata commissioner in the light of the horrific incident that shook the nation. Read more

Kolkata Doctor Rape Case Updates Live: 12 polygraph tests, 100 statements later, Sanjay Roy remains only rape-murder accused

Sanjay Roy remains the only accused person on paper in the past 30 days of probe into the rape and murder of the RG Kar Hospital doctor - initially by the Kolkata Police and then by the CBI. The central investigating agency has, meanwhile, interrogated almost 100 witnesses and ran 12 polygraph tests. Read more

Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case Live: CBI team arrives at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital shortly after SC hearing

Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case Live: SC expresses concern over absence of document for autopsy

The Supreme Court on Monday voiced concern over the absence of a key document that was needed for the postmortem of the medic raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, and asked the CBI to investigate into it. A bench headed by CJI D Y Chandrachud said there was no reference of the 'challan' (document) used, and sought an answer from the CBI and the West Bengal government.

"Where is the challan of the body when it was handed over for postmortem? the bench also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, informed the bench that the challan was not part of their records.

Kolkata Doctor Rape Case Supreme Court Hearing Live: 'Conspiracy by Centre, we are fulfilling all requirements of CISF' - Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Centre was conspiring over public outcry involving the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at a state-run hospital last month. She also claimed that some Left parties were involved in it.

Speaking at an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat- Nabanna, Banerjee also claimed she had never offered money to the deceased doctor's parents, dismissing a campaign that the family members of the postgraduate trainee were offered money.

Kolkata Doctor Rape Case Updates Live: Cover-up efforts loom over probes

It's been exactly a month since the PGT doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was brutally raped and murdered at her workplace. However, although one person has been arrested, mystery shrouds the incident as parents, junior doctors and a large section of citizens continue to seek answers to basic questions that the establishment has found difficult to answer, raising allegations of a possible "cover-up". Read more

Some people taking advantage of turmoil in neighbouring country, they have forgotten that India, Bangladesh are separate nations: Mamata Banerjee

'I told deceased doctor's parents that if they wanted to do something in their daughter's memory, our govt with them': Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case Live: CBI's financial scam probe opens Pandora's box of corruption and graft at RG Kar Hospital

The probe into the alleged financial irregularities in RG Kar Medical College & Hospital has now opened up a Pandora's Box of scams by a "criminal nexus" across levels at the hospital that minted money in various ways, from tender rigging to biomedical waste scam. Read more

I have never offered money to deceased doctor's family, this is nothing but slander: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Breaking: People of Bengal being misled, says CM Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata Doctor Case SC Hearing Live: Supreme Court adjourns hearing to September 17

Kolkata Doctor Rape Case Updates Live: 'WB govt must create steps to create degree of confidence in the minds of the doctors, install CCTVs, ensure female restrooms,' says CJI

The CJI said "State of WB must create steps to create degree of confidence in the minds of the doctors that concerns regarding their safety and duly be catered to . The police shall ensure that necessary conditions are created for ensuring the safety of all doctors (including provisions for separate duty rooms; toilet facilities ; installation of CCTV cameras."

Kolkata Doctor Case SC Hearing Live: West Bengal govt assures SC that if protesting doctors resume work, no action, including punitive transfers, shall be taken against them

Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case Live: CJI urges agitating doctors to resume work by Tuesday 5pm or disciplinary action may be taken

"If doctors do not resume work, then we cannot stop the govt from taking disciplinary action. We have given two days. The young doctors must now return and resume work. We know what is happening on the ground. First, return to work. They are in a system to render service. We will provide facilities, but they have to reciprocate. The district collector and superintendent of police will ensure safety, and you have to now return to work. If you do not come to work, do not hold anyone responsible for disciplinary action against you. You cannot say seniors are working, so we will not," says CJI.

Kolkata Doctor Case SC Hearing Live: 'Now protests are all over the state, no route or permissions sought from police, what do we do' - Kapil Sibal

Advocate Kapil Sibal said, "23 people have died because they do not work, health care system can collapse, 6 lakh individuals denied treatments, resident docs not attending OPDs. No angiography for over 1500 patients. Doctors were asked to go back to work. Now it must be noted that proceedings would be initiated against them if they do not report to work. We set up May I help you booths and those booths have been ransacked. Now protests are all over the state. No route or permissions sought from police. So what do we do."

Kolkata Doctor Murder Case Supreme Court Hearing Live: Bench orders immediate removal of victim's photos from social media

SC directs immediate removal of photographs of the RG Kar hospital victim from all social media platforms and electronic mediums must be removed forthwith to protect the dignity and privacy of the deceased.

During a hearing concerning the rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the West Bengal government informed the Supreme Court on Monday that 23 individuals have lost their lives due to the ongoing doctors' strike. The strike was initiated in protest of the rape and murder of a postgraduate medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

Kolkata Doctor Case SC Hearing Live: 'There was delay of at least 14 hours in filing FIR', says SC