RG Kar rape-murder case: Protesting doctors write to President Murmu, PM Modi seeking intervention to end impasse

Protesting junior doctors in West Bengal have written to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital impasse. The four-page letter highlighted the key demands and issues faced by the healthcare professionals under the West Bengal Health Department.

Copies of the four-page letter were also sent to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda.

The agitating doctors wrote, "Our unfortunate colleague who has been the victim of the most despicable crime shall receive justice, and so that we, the healthcare professionals under the West Bengal Health department, may be able to discharge our duties to the public without fear and apprehension."

"Your intervention in these trying times will act as a beacon of light to us all, showing us the way ahead out of the darkness that surrounds us," it read.

The junior doctors also wrote in the letter that the "institutional threats, violence and vandalism," have been on the rise.

The doctors had written the letter after the talks with the West Bengal government failed on the third day. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee offered to resign amid the intensifying protests.

On Thursday, the West Bengal government invited the protesting doctors for talks again but they did not attend despite reaching the venue as they demanded a live telecast of the meeting which the government turned down.

The doctors have been protesting since a junior doctor was raped and murdered in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

Around 30 medics, representing 26 medical colleges participating in the stir, had visited Nabanna for the meeting. The protesting doctors said they required transparency from the government and the only way it seemed to do so was through live-streaming.

CBI moves court to conduct narco test on Sanjay Roy

The central probe agency has appealed to the city-based Sealdah court seeking permission to conduct the naco test on Sanjay Roy, who was arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

However, the court refused CBI’s plea to conduct the test.

The CBI has already conducted a polygraph test on Roy inside the Presidency Correctional Home.

The CBI took over the case from the Kolkata Police upon directions of the Calcutta High Court.

Protests continue outside 'Swathya Bhavan’

Junior doctors continued their 'cease work' and sit-in demonstration outside the West Bengal Health Department headquarters for the third consecutive day on Friday.

The agitating doctors said their demonstration will continue outside the state health department headquarters, until their key demands are met, including the suspension of Police Commissioner, Health Secretary, Director of Health Services, and Director of Medical Education.

"We will continue our agitation despite wanting to resume our work, but not until our demands are met," members of the protesting doctors' forum said.

The state government and the CM have repeatedly urged the doctors to resume work. Even the Supreme Court directed the agitating doctors to end the ‘cease work’ strike.

Though Thursday's talks failed to take place, the protesting doctors maintained that they still desire a meeting, but only in a completely transparent manner.