RG Kar impasse: Bengal doctors-govt meeting ends with no result
Kolkata/IBNS: A fresh round of talks between a delegation representing West Bengal doctors and the state government over the RG Kar deadlock ended with no result on Monday.
The meeting was called by West Bengal government chief secretary Manoj Pant at state health office Swasthya Bhavan on the 10th day of seven junior doctors' hunger strike over the RG Kar rape-murder incident.
The hunger strike has been called with demands for justice for RG Kar rape-murder victim, removal of some officials and security at hospitals.
Speaking to the media, Pant said seven of 10 demands made by the protesters have already been fulfilled.
"Seven of the ten demands have either already been fulfilled or works are progressing to meet them. We can't give a timeline for the other three demands, which require administrative actions," said Pant.
Four of seven junior doctors who are holding the hunger strike have been hospitalised as their health deteriorated due to the 'fast unto death' protest.
In a symbolic protest, several private hospitals went to ceasework barring emergency duties for 48 hours from Monday.
The junior doctors of West Bengal have given a call for human chain in Kolkata on Tuesday on a day Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is facing massive public ire, will be holding the annual carnival of Durga Puja at Red Road, which is close to the site where the medics are on hunger strike.
The Supreme Court, which is monitoring the Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the rape and murder of 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on the intervening night of August 8 and 9, will resume hearing on the case on Tuesday.
Though Kolkata Police was quick to arrest civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy in connection with the incident, West Bengal junior doctors suspect there are more than one behind the incident.
The case is currently being probed by the CBI under the monitoring of the Supreme Court.
The CBI has arrested ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, who was already in custody for alleged financial irregularities in the hospital, and a cop in connection with the case.
Prior to CBI's investigation, the state administration came under the scanner over its alleged cover-up, delay in filing FIRs, demolition work near the crime scene, posting of Ghosh to the same post at another college after his resignation from RG Kar.
In its first chargesheet, the CBI has named Sanjoy Roy as the main accused.
The crime has triggered widespread outrage across the country. Junior doctors of West Bengal continued ceasework for over 40 days in two phases demanding justice for the victim and safety for the medics.