Doctors remain firm on demand to continue sit-in; delegation meets CBI officials

Protesting doctors seek extension for agitation at Dorina Crossing, Esplanade, demanding justice for raped and murdered doctor.

Protesting doctors have approached the Calcutta High Court seeking an extension for their agitation at Dorina Crossing, Esplanade. Two doctors’ delegations met officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after raising concerns regarding the investigation process. 

“We would like to extend our protest demonstration till December 31. We shall again move the court seeking permission for that,” one of the agitating doctors said. The protesters intend to stay on the site till the 31-year-old doctor who was raped and murdered in August gets justice. 

No resolution was passed at the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, the next hearing in the matter is set to be held on Monday. 

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh had given the protesting doctors permission to continue their agitation till Thursday. The future of the agitation remained in doubt, however, as they did not get an official extension. The State had raised concerns about this order which permitted the Joint Forum of Doctors to protest between December 20-26. 

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On Thursday, two delegations of doctors headed to two CBI offices at Nizam Palace and CGO Complex to meet the investigating officers and voice their concerns over the process which they feel has lagged. The meeting came after two accused in the case were granted bail after CBI officials failed to file a chargesheet within the first 90 days of the arrest this included the former R.G. Kar principal Sandip Ghosh and Tala Thana officer-in-charge Abhijit Mondal who were arrested for alleged tampering of evidence and for delay in filing the FIR. 

Aniket Mahato, a protesting junior resident doctor at R.G. Kar, had raised similar concerns on Tuesday during another march to the CGO complex. He said, “If the CBI cannot give justice; if they behave like this, if the State police treat us like this, then where will the common man go to seek justice?”