Kolkata Doctor Rape and Murder Case Live Updates: Meeting of agitating medics with Bengal chief secretary ends

The second round of talks between the West Bengal government and the agitating junior doctors to resolve the RG Kar impasse ended after nearly two-and-a-half hours on Wednesday evening, officials said. Although the meeting has ended, the agitating doctors were yet to come out of the venue, state secretariat Nabanna. The details of the meeting were awaited.

The second round of talks between agitating junior doctors and officials of the West Bengal government to resolve the impasse due to the RG Kar issue is presently underway for nearly one-and-a-half hours, officials said. Escorted by a pilot police vehicle, the delegation of around 30 medics reached the secretariat around 7.15 pm.

The meeting with the Chief Secretary Manoj Pant started around 7.30 pm.

Just like Monday when they held talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the protesting medics were accompanied by stenographers to record the minutes of the meeting.

"We want the issue of safety and security in hospitals to be addressed. The chief minister had announced the formation of a task force, but there is no proper clarity on it. We want the state government to accept our legitimate demands," an agitating doctor said before leaving for the meeting venue.

The West Bengal government on Wednesday invited the junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar rape-murder incident for a meeting at the state secretariat at 6.30 pm, responding to their request for a fresh round of talks.

The West Bengal government will again meet a delegation of 30 junior doctors on Wednesday after the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front requested one more meeting as some of their demands remained unsolved.

The reply from Bengal Chief Secretary, Manoj Pant stated that many districts of South Bengal are facing flood-like situations and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been visiting those areas.

In the reply, Pant said, "I received your mail dated September 18. In this regard, the Chief Minister has already announced the constitution of a Task Force to address your concerns regarding safety and security in medical colleges and hospitals. You are aware that many districts of South Bengal are facing flood-like situations with vast areas inundated."

Junior doctors of West Bengal Junior Doctors Front leave for Nabanna to meet the chief secretary. Junior doctors had requested to meet the Chief Secretary as according to them, some of their demands remained unresolved.

The officer in charge of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mondal has been suspended, the Kolkata police informed on Wednesday. This comes after the CBI special crime branch arrested Abhijit Mondal in connection with RG Kar rape & murder case on September 14.

The scheduled meeting would be the second round of talks between the stirring medics and the state government in 48 hours, the first of which was held in the presence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday.

"You are aware that many districts of South Bengal are facing a flood-like situation with vast areas inundated.

"In the light of the above situation, while we again appeal to you to join duties in larger public interest and provide services to common people, I along with the other members of the task force will meet your delegation of 30 members at Nabanna Sabhaghar today at 6.30 pm," Pant's email, sent at 2.49 pm, stated.

Earlier, the junior doctors wrote to the chief secretary, seeking a discussion on certain "key unresolved issues" like security in hospitals as a pre-condition for lifting their ongoing sit-in outside the state health department headquarters.

The medics shot off an email at 11.19 am as follow up to decisions taken in their general body meeting, which concluded early Wednesday morning.

There will be another round of talks between the delegates of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF) and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant at the state secretariat Nabanna at 6.30 pm on Wednesday over the unresolved demands of the forum.

The doctors have been protesting over the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of state-run RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata last month.

Earlier in the day, the forum had shot an email to the Chief Secretary expressing willingness to meet him on Wednesday only over their unresolved demand.

Dr Aqeeb said, "We sent a mail to the Chief Secretary. Today we received a reply also. We want to discuss on the disagreements over several issues in the last meeting. We want that all the issues should be resolved as soon as possible and we return to our work. We hope that the meeting will be successful. It will be held today from 6.30 pm onwards. We hope that the CM will be also present at the meeting."

This year's Durga Puja festival will explore themes such as 'sati-daha,' the ancient practice of widow immolation, and the artworks of the Ajanta Caves, all set against the backdrop of the RG Kar hospital incident. Graffiti related to this incident will also be featured around one of the Kolkata marquees. Each year, many puja organizers in West Bengal select themes focused on social issues and current events, using their pandals, idols, and lighting arrangements to illustrate them.

The Enforcement Directorate has seized multiple documents during a nearly 20-hour search operation at the residences and nursing home of TMC MLA Sudipto Roy, as part of its investigation into financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital. Officials from the central agency began the operation early Tuesday morning and left around 2 AM on Wednesday with a "boxful of documents." An officer stated, "Some important case-related documents have been seized, and we are investigating whether the doctor had any financial transactions or dealings with the hospital."

Abhishek Banerjee posted on X: Since day one, I have supported the doctors in their concerns regarding safety and security, and I have always maintained that most of their concerns, barring a few, are valid, sensible and justified. As per the SC's directions and the GoWB’s submission before the SC yesterday, most of the measures for improving their safety and security are in progress, including the installation of CCTV cameras and infrastructural developments in Medical Colleges and Hospitals across West Bengal, which are expected to be completed within 14 days. Additionally, the government has honored their demands for transferring certain top officials in the Health Department and Kolkata Police, as confirmed by the HCM the day before in her media address.

As a gesture of goodwill, the doctors should now consider CALLING OFF THE STRIKE AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH GoWB to serve the people and expedite the implementation of the task force's initiatives to ensure these changes are promptly executed.

Lastly, it is crucial to hold the CBI accountable and ensure that no perpetrators are spared, with swift punishment handed down at the earliest opportunity. The CBI's record speaks for itself: over the past 10 years, they have not completed a single investigation they have undertaken. JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED.

Agitating junior doctors wrote to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Wednesday, requesting a discussion on certain "key unresolved issues," such as security in hospitals, as a pre-condition for ending their ongoing dharna outside the state health department headquarters. They emphasized concerns about safety and security within state-run hospitals and sought details on the promised special task force led by the chief secretary for the proposed meeting. "In reference to our last meeting with the CM, we want to reiterate that several key points regarding our five-point demand remain unresolved, particularly our 4th and 5th points related to the development of the healthcare system, safety, security, and the prevailing threat culture," they stated in their email.

The CBI contended that the FIR in the case was filed 14 hours after the Tala police received information about the discovery of a 31-year-old PGT doctor's body at the hospital. Additionally, it noted that the search-and-seizure had been completed before the FIR was filed. The agency argued that these attempts to bypass protocols suggested a possibility of "trying to delay the proceedings."

CBI on Tuesday told a special court in Kolkata that till now it had evidence against one suspect in the Aug 9 RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case but was still probing the gang-rape angle. It also said it suspected that former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh and former Tala police station OC Abhijit Mandal were part of a "larger conspiracy" but failed to provide any evidence to corroborate its claims.

“I have 100% trust that the apex court will ensure a fair resolution. However, we are not happy with the administrative changes. We want justice for our daughter. Those who have tampered with the evidence of her murder are being arrested one by one. Everyone involved in this incident should be punished. Victory will be achieved the day my daughter gets proper justice.”, said victim’s father after the Supreme Court’s hearing on Tuesday.

"The removal of Health Secretary N S Nigam and the elimination of the threat culture in state-run hospitals are crucial for rebuilding the collapsed healthcare system. We have requested another meeting with the Chief Minister," said one of the protesting doctors from the agitation site.

The sit-in agitation outside the Swasthya Bhavan entered its ninth day while the 'cease work' stir in hospitals continued for the 40th day on Wednesday.

Junior doctors continued their 'cease work' protest in hospitals and held a sit-in near Swasthya Bhavan, the state health department headquarters, on Wednesday morning. They are demanding justice for the medic who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, as well as the removal of the health secretary.

Protesting junior doctors, on strike since August 9, indicated Wednesday that they would not immediately end their protest. They seek more visible improvements in safety and security before making a final decision and plan to meet with the chief secretary to discuss government measures following a lengthy general body meeting that ended around midnight.

In an application to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, junior doctors requested the creation of monitoring committees in each hospital, the establishment of a grievance redress system, internal complaint committees as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, and counseling centers for doctors. The SC acknowledged the merit of these demands and directed the state to implement them within three days.

Addressing a comment from the Solicitor General during a previous hearing, which accused Kapil Sibal of laughing while the court was addressing a serious offense involving a young girl, Sibal responded: “When was I laughing? I was not laughing. This is the most heinous crime. We are facing threats to women lawyers in our chambers, including threats of acid attacks and rape. This is what is happening on the ground, and it is not fair.”