Targeted by authorities for leading R.G. Kar protests, say West Bengal doctors
Targeted by authorities for leading R.G. Kar protests, say West Bengal doctors
Several doctors in West Bengal have alleged that they are being targeted by authorities for speaking out against them during protests demanding justice for a postgraduate trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last year.
The incident sparked outrage, with doctors across the State demanding better security measures and accountability from the government.
Now, two junior doctors and several senior doctors are reportedly under the scanner even as the movement is in its last leg with the sole convict being given life imprisonment.
On the eve of Republic Day, four senior doctors from government hospitals — Dr. Manas Gumta, Dr. Utpal Banerjee, Dr. Subarna Goswami, and Dr. Ranjan Bhattacharya — found out that complaints had been filed against them by the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC).
Speaking to The Hindu, Dr. Goswami said although they haven’t received an official complaint yet, they’ve been informed about the action taken by the WBMC. According to Dr. Goswami, the complaint alleges that they are obstructing the WBMC’s work. “Of course we are. We have obstructed their work of collecting money and doing bad things under this banner,” he said.
Dr. Goswami said he has faced backlash before, when the R.G. Kar movement was at its peak in August last year. Along with others, he was summoned to the Kolkata police headquarters on allegations of spreading misinformation. However, the incident triggered a massive outpouring of emotional support, ultimately leading to the complaint being scrapped.
Dr. Tapas Pramanick, a medical officer at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, has been facing allegations of a “medical question paper leak”. He has written to the State Health Grievance Cell terming them “malicious”. “As I have been vocal during the movement and spoken against the government, they are trying to crack down and silence me.”
Junior resident doctors from R.G. Kar hospital, including Asfakullah Naiya and Kinjal Nanda, have faced similar allegations. Dr. Naiya received a show-cause notice from the WBMC for practising as an ENT specialist at a private clinic in Hooghly without having received his degree.
The situation escalated when around 30 police personnel searched his house in Kakdwip, South 24-Parganas, on the same day. However, the Calcutta High Court intervened, staying the investigation.
“I have spoken against the government. If they have any enmity, it should be with me. The raids should have happened in my presence. I dare them to confront me in person,” Dr. Naiya said.
Dr. Nanda, who has also acted in a few movies, has received a letter from the WBMC inquiring about his attendance and his work in films. He has responded by stating that if any association has questions about his income, they should verify his Income Tax returns, and that his recreational activities are outside the WBMC’s purview.
Kunal Ghosh, spokesperson for the Trinamool Congress and former Rajya Sabha MP, has accused doctors of playing the victim card. “They are expressing grief, protesting, and working on movies and serials all at the same time. How do they manage time? Maybe this irked a section of the doctors. It is an internal problem between doctors,” he said.
Meanwhile, 12 doctors, suspended in connection with the “expired saline administration case” at Medinipur Medical College, are being questioned at the West Bengal police headquarters in Kolkata.
Various sections of doctors have alleged that the suspensions were merely a “diversionary tactic” to shift attention away from the primary issue: the “questionable” quality of the Ringer Lactate saline that led to the death of a woman and a newborn.
