Agitating junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have kept their sit-in demonstration alive for the fifth consecutive day outside the state health department headquarters in Salt Lake.
Despite incessant rain, the doctors are holding their ground, demanding justice for the colleague who was allegedly raped and murdered on the hospital premises.
The demonstrators, who have been on cease-work since August 9, are also calling for the suspension of key officials, including Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, Health Secretary NS Nigam, and other health administrators. They accuse these officials of failing to fulfil their duties in the aftermath of the tragic incident.
"Rain, heat, earthquakes will not stop our protest until we get justice for Abhaya and our other demands are met. We are here for a noble cause," said Aniket Mahato, one of the protesting doctors.
He added, "No force will stop us from achieving this."
While maintaining their stance, the doctors indicated they are open to negotiations. "If someone thinks we are rigid, stubborn, that is wrong. We are doctors, not politicians. Our only aim is to cleanse the health system," Soumya Chakraborty, another protester, explained.
The doctors are pushing for more security measures for women healthcare professionals across the state.
They have also appealed to President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Health Minister JP Nadda to intervene and expedite the investigation.
The tragic incident, which sparked the protest, occurred on August 9 when the body of the postgraduate woman doctor was found in the seminar hall of the hospital. A Kolkata Police civic volunteer was arrested the following day in connection with the case.
The investigation has since been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), following a Calcutta High Court directive.
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