RG Kar Case: Junior Doctors’ Hunger Strike Enters Eighth Day With Growing Tensions & Protests

The hunger strike initiated by junior doctors in response to the tragic rape and murder of a colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has now reached its eighth day, coinciding with the festive occasion of Vijayadashami.

The ongoing agitation highlights the growing unrest among medical professionals over safety concerns and justice for their fallen peer.

The protest, which began on 5 October with six participants, has seen an increase in the number of fasting doctors, now totaling eight.

Two junior doctors, Alolika Ghorui and Parichay Panda, joined the hunger strike early Saturday morning, amplifying the voices of their colleagues.

Initially, the strike featured participants Tanaya Panja, Snigdha Hazra, Sayantani Ghosh Hazra, Anushtup Mukhopadhyay, Arnab Mukhopadhyay, and Pulastya Acharya.

However, the situation took a serious turn when Aniket Mahato, who joined the strike a day later, suffered a health crisis and required intensive care earlier this week.

This forced a temporary reduction in the number of fasting doctors. The recent additions of Ghorui and Panda have revitalized the protest.

In a parallel demonstration, two additional junior doctors, Alok Kumar Verma and Souvik Banerjee, have initiated their own hunger strike at North Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri, underscoring the widespread solidarity among medical professionals in the region.

Compounding the unrest, allegations have however surfaced regarding police intimidation tactics against the families of the striking doctors.

The parents of Snigdha Hazra reported that officers visited their home during the night, pressuring them to persuade their daughter to end her protest.

Hazra, who recently married fellow junior doctor Debasish Halder – an outspoken advocate in the ongoing protests – has received significant media attention for her resolve.

As tensions mount, a civil society group known as Citizens for Justice has organized a protest march to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Salt Lake, Kolkata, scheduled for Saturday evening.

The forum is questioning the CBI’s apparent inaction regarding the investigation into the horrific crime, citing a lack of progress since initial findings were released by the Kolkata Police.

The ongoing protests and hunger strikes by junior doctors reflect deep-rooted frustrations within the medical community over safety and justice, demanding urgent reforms and accountability in the wake of such a tragic incident.

The situation continues to develop as both the protests and investigations gain momentum.

Also Read: RG Kar Case: Two Additional Doctors Join Kolkata Hunger Strike; Protest Gains Momentum