Before climbdown, allegation of ‘external pressure’ at dharna site
A senior officer of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, said, “Why would the police pressure the decorators? If the agitating doctors face any problems, they can inform us. We are always here to help them.”
Written by Sweety Kumari
Kolkata | September 20, 2024 04:21 AM IST
2 min read
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Fans being taken away from the protest site near Swasthya Bhavan on Thursday. Express
Hours before junior doctors in West Bengal partially lifted the month-long cease work on Thursday night following the rape and murder of their colleague at state-run RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, they alleged that their tents at the dharna site near Swasthya Bhavan were being removed and fans taken away due to “external pressure” on the contractors.
“We initially thought the decorators were removing the items for Durga Puja marquees. But later we learned they were doing it under pressure from the police. We want to reiterate that such pressure tactics will only strengthen our resolve,” a junior doctor said.
Police, however, denied the allegations, calling it “baseless”.
A senior officer of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, said, “Why would the police pressure the decorators? If the agitating doctors face any problems, they can inform us. We are always here to help them.”
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This came hours after Wednesday’s marathon meeting with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant where the doctors’ delegation demanded a comprehensive investigation into the incidents of threat and intimidation to doctors. They also demanded setting up of a central inquiry committee,
comprising undergraduate students and resident doctors, to conduct a thorough probe into the alleged “threat culture” in hospitals and medical colleges.
The junior doctors also called for the implementation of democratic processes within medical colleges and asked the government to issue a directive mandating the formation of college council meetings to facilitate fair and transparent elections for student unions and resident doctors’ associations within the next two months.
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More