Justice for Abhaya: Doctors to Hold Mass Rally to CBI Office on Oct 30 Over RG Kar Horror

Kolkata: It has been almost three months since the gruesome rape and murder of Abhaya, a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, at the hospital's seminar room on August 9. The horrific incident sparked nationwide protests demanding Justice for Abhaya and doctors at RG Kar continue to hold protests. Days after calling off their fast-unto-death, junior doctors of RG Kar have now called for a mass rally on October 30.RG Kar Horror: Protesting Doctors Call for Mass Rally on Oct 30Within five days of withdrawing their fast-unto-death, agitating junior doctors in West Bengal on Saturday held a mass convention and decided to organise a rally to the CBI's office here on October 30 demanding justice for the RG Kar victim."It's been more than two-and-a-half months since our beloved sister was tortured and murdered and we still don't know who the real culprit is. So, at today's mass convention we have decided to hold a rally to the CBI office at CGO Complex on October 30," Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating doctors, said.Mass Convention Held to Strategise Next Move in Fight for JusticeThis call for mass rally came after the mass convention which was organised by the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (WBJDF) on Saturday, to strategise their next move to seek justice for the RG Kar victim and ensure that the state government fulfils their demands.Thirty-two representatives of the forum, and civil society representatives and celebrities spoke at the convention that started on Saturday afternoon and went on for more than six hours. The participants also discussed the threat culture allegedly prevalent in various state-run hospitals, besides steps to be taken to exert pressure on the state government to make it fulfil their demands."We have called this mass convention to seek justice for our sister, who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital on August 9," Mahato said. The mass convention at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was followed by a ‘candle and fire torch rally’, attended by doctors from various state-run medical establishments and representatives of civil society and celebrities from the Bengali entertainment industry.What Are Protesting Doctors Demanding in Kolkata Rape and Murder Case?In a statement at the programme, an agitating doctor highlighted the doctors' demand following the horrific Kolkata Rape and Murder Case. Dr Debasish Halder said, "The protest started by a few doctors has now taken a massive shape. We wanted to know what happened at the seminar hall of the hospital (where the body was found). We had no idea that this movement would continue for so long and we would get the support of so many people." On October 21, the agitating junior doctors called off their fast-unto-death, which started on October 5, following a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who assured them of looking into their demands. On Saturday, the junior doctors also alleged that there were attempts to suppress the truth about what led to the rape and murder of the on-duty doctor at the RG Kar Hospital and that there were attempts to protect the culprits behind the incident."We wanted to know what was the truth and that is why we had pressed for a magisterial inquiry. There have been attempts to suppress the truth. We not only want justice but we also want to cleanse the system," Kinjal Nanda, another agitating doctor, said. The 'cease-work' initiated by the junior doctors on August 9 following the recovery of the woman doctor's body at RG Kar Hospital continued for 42 days before the West Bengal government assured them of looking into their demands.Meanwhile, another group of doctors, who got a stay order from the Calcutta High Court regarding their suspension issued by an internal committee allegedly for promoting 'threat culture' in medical colleges and hospitals, floated the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Association on Saturday. Kolkata Rape and Murder CaseAbhaya, the victim was a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and was on a 36-hour shift when she was brutally raped and murdered in the hospital's seminar room. There have been several discrepancies in the case from the beginning, including the information given to the parents, the autopsy conducted, whether it was a gangrape or not, the motive behind the crime and the alleged involvement of the then-principal of RG Kar, Sandip Ghosh. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting an investigation which also led to financial irregularities at the Kolkata-run hospital under Sandip Ghosh. Sanjoy Roy, who is the main accused in the case, is in police custody and further investigation is underway; Sandip Ghosh and his aides have also been arrested. The rape and murder has also sparked a political debate over the unsafe environment across the state under TMC government. The Supreme Court of India has also taken suo moto cognisance in the case.(Inputs from PTI)

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Justice for Abhaya: Doctors to Hold Mass Rally to CBI Office on Oct 30 Over RG Kar Horror

Days after calling off their fast-unto-death, protesting doctors have called for a mass rally to the CBI office on October 30, demanding justice for Abhaya.

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