Kolkata police chief, two top health officials sacked over brutal rape-murder of woman doctor last month

West Bengal government sacked Kolkata police chief and two top health ministry officials following a meeting between a delegation of protesting doctors and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sep 16.

The decision was taken after doctors continued to protest against last month's brutal rape-murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The discovery of the 31-year-old trainee doctor's semi-clad body at the state-run hospital on Aug 9 stoked a nationwide outrage with doctors spearheading the protest seeking justice for the victim and enhanced security for medical professionals.

"We have agreed to remove the director of health services and director of medical colleges," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting.

"Vineet Goyal, Commissioner of Kolkata police, will also be removed, as demanded by the junior doctors," she added.
Banerjee urged the doctors to return to work, saying emergency operations were being affected by their strike.

"I know they will go and discuss and then will decide on lifting the cease work. But I have requested them to do so, citing the condition of patients, especially because of the floods in some of the districts," Banerjee said.

"I think the meeting was positive. I am sure they think too. Or why else we will sign the minutes of the meeting and they would sign it too?" she added.

The meeting between protesting doctors and Banerjee lasted for about two hours at the latter’s residence after two failed attempts earlier. The junior doctors said that the state's acceptance of their demands was a "big victory" of their weeks-long agitation.

The work will be resumed only after the government issues formal orders, doctors said.

"We have only received their verbal assurance and work will be resumed after the action is taken," a representative of the Junior Doctors' forum was quoted as saying.

Earlier the decisions were formalized and signed by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, and countersigned by the delegation of 42 doctors who participated in the meeting.

The signed document also showed the government sanction of ₹100 crore for infrastructure development in hospitals and rebuilding patient welfare committees.

A special task force, headed by the Chief Secretary has been formed to tackle safety measures in the hospitals. An effective grievance redressal mechanism will also be set up, it reads.

However, the aggrieved doctors are also demanding an end to the corruption at the hospital. "We will continue the agitation for the removal of the health secretary," another representative was quoted as saying.

Notably, the Supreme Court has already ordered that the doctors put an end to the cease work and get back to patient care but doctors in Bengal have continued their protest.