As per reports, the following updates are available on the Kolkata rape-murder case as of Wednesday (02 October):
• The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF), representing junior doctors protesting the rape and murder of a colleague from R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, announced on Wednesday (02 October) that they will escalate their protests to Delhi if the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) does not reach a definitive conclusion in the case promptly. Their demands focus on improved safety measures for hospital staff.
• On Wednesday evening (02 October), undergraduate and postgraduate students, junior doctors, and interns of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital held a torchlight procession. Additionally, doctors from private hospitals lit earthen lamps at Ganga Ghat to commemorate the incident.
• On Wednesday afternoon (02 October), the Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front organised a mega rally on Mahalaya (beginning of Durga Puja festivities), starting from College Street and converging at Esplanade. The rally attracted a large turnout of medical practitioners and the general public, demanding justice for the deceased doctor. Participants also reportedly protested against the prevailing culture of fear and intimidation within the state’s medical system.
• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated on Wednesday (02 October) that the state’s culture embraces the celebration of various festivities throughout the year and encourages inclusivity during these events. Her remarks came in response to calls from some protestors to boycott the Durga Puja festival amid the R.G. Kar rape-murder case.
• A day after junior doctors resumed their protest, the West Bengal government announced the formation of a high-power committee to study and recommend security measures for hospitals. The seven-member committee will be led by former West Bengal Police DGP Surajit Kar Purkayastha, who has served as an advisor to the government post-retirement. According to the government notification, the committee is required to submit its initial report within two months.
