A group of junior doctors in Kolkata has entered the 12th day of their hunger strike, protesting the tragic rape and murder of a fellow junior doctor from RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.
The demonstration, which began at Esplanade, now includes seven participants, with Rumelika Kumar from the All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health and Spandan Chowdhury from Midnapore Medical College & Hospital joining the strike on Tuesday evening.
As the protest continues, Kolkata Police have intensified measures to control the situation, particularly following the conclusion of the Durga Puja celebrations.
Additionally, the authorities extended prohibitory orders around the RG Kar complex in North Kolkata, prohibiting gatherings of five or more individuals until 30 October.
This action however falls under Section 163 of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, affecting areas such as Shyambazar, Tala, Shyampukur, and Ultadanga.
In response to the extension of these orders, one protesting junior doctor expressed frustration, stating that such measures are futile, as the outrage over the horrific incident extends beyond Kolkata and West Bengal, becoming a national issue.
The hunger strike, which commenced on the evening of 5 October, already led to hospitalizations for five junior doctors due to serious health complications arising from their fast.
According to the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), the organization leading the protest, the health of those remaining on the hunger strike is rapidly declining, particularly for those who began their fast on the initial day.
Prominent figures from civil society, including actress and director Aparna Sen and educationist Pabitra Sarkar, have urged the West Bengal government to take a more compassionate approach toward the junior doctors’ demands.
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