On September 3, 2024, a group of junior doctors protesting against the rape and murder case at RG Kar Hospital met with Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal. They presented him with a letter demanding his resignation and also gave him a replica of a human spine as a symbolic gift.
Hundreds of doctors staged a night-long protest outside the Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar, demanding the resignation of Vineet Goyal due to alleged police inaction in the case. After a 22-hour standoff, the police removed guardrails and barricades, permitting a delegation of 22 doctors to meet with the Commissioner.
As protesters staged demonstrations from nearby Phears Lane toward Lalbazar, a delegation from the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front met with Vineet Goyal in his office, where they engaged in discussions for an hour.
Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor at RG Kar Hospital and one of the representatives, said the Commissioner “gracefully received” their letter demanding his resignation. Dr. Mahato stated after the meeting that the Commissioner acknowledged the police’s failures regarding the events of August 12 (the “renovation work” near the crime scene) and August 14 (the attack on RG Kar Hospital). “We also discussed other issues, such as the improper cordoning off of the crime scene and evidence tampering,” Dr. Mahato said. He added that the Commissioner listened to their concerns and expressed satisfaction with the police’s work but indicated that he would resign if his superiors requested it.
Dr Mahato stated after the meeting that the Commissioner conceded the police’s shortcomings concerning the events of August 12 (the “renovation work” near the crime scene) and August 14 (the attack on R.G. Kar Hospital). “We also addressed other issues, including the improper cordoning off of the crime scene and evidence tampering,” Dr Mahato said. He added that while the Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the police’s performance, he mentioned that he would gladly resign if requested by his superiors.
Kinjal Nanda, a representative of the junior doctors, said, “We presented our list of demands to the Police Commissioner, including a call for his resignation, and provided him with a copy. We questioned him about the violation of the crime scene, but he was unable to offer satisfactory answers. In the end, we gave him the human spine replica as a symbolic gift and then left.”
Dr Mahato and Dr Nanda stated that while the protesters outside Lalbazar would disperse, the movement for justice for the victim would persist. “Our demand for justice and the ceasework protest will continue. On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., junior doctors have called for everyone to turn off their lights and light a candle or diya. Let us all come together in our quest for justice,” Dr Mahato said.
On the evening of September 3, 2024, healthcare workers from various private hospitals formed a human chain along the EM Bypass, stretching from Patuli to Ultadanga, in a demonstration demanding justice for the victim. The chain covered over 15 kilometres and included seven areas: Patuli Jhil Park, Ajoy Nagar, Mukundapur, Ruby More, Science City, Chingrighata, and Mani Square. Thousands of citizens joined the human chain, and commuters chanted, “We want justice” as they passed by the protesters. “We must not forget the need for justice even with Durga Puja approaching,” one of the protesters remarked.
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