Kolkata rape-murder case: West Bengal government releases list of doctors transferred from medical colleges

Kolkata rape-murder case: The rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in Kolkata has sparked outrage across the country. The incident, which took place at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024, led to widespread protests demanding justice for the victim. Amid this sensitive issue, the West Bengal government on Saturday issued transfer orders for 42 professors and doctors working in various medical colleges and hospitals in the state. The order also includes two doctors from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Sangeeta Paul and Dr. Supriya Das.

Transfer orders and protests

According to the official notification issued on August 16, 2024, these doctors have been transferred to the West Bengal Medical Education Service (WB-MES). The government claims that this is a routine administrative process, but the decision has sparked widespread controversy and criticism. Several doctors’ associations and opposition party BJP have criticised the move, saying it could be a conspiracy or an attempt to intimidate doctors.

The United Doctors Front Association has strongly condemned the transfers. “Such transfers of senior doctors who supported our protests are completely unjust. It is an attempt to suppress the demand for justice and security. We stand united against this punitive action and will continue to raise our demands with full force,” the association said in a statement.

Protesters’ reaction

The protesting doctors of RG Kar Medical College have expressed their concerns over the transfer orders. They said they have received information about the transfer of some senior professors, but it is not clear whether it is linked to their protests. A protesting doctor said, “We know that the transfer list includes some doctors who supported our movement, but whether this transfer has happened for this reason is not clear yet. If this is true, we want the transfer orders to be withdrawn.” Potential impact and future course of action

This large-scale transfer has raised questions about the government’s intent and its potential impact on the protests. Whether the move is indeed a routine administrative exercise or has some other purpose remains to be seen. The controversy has raised questions about the West Bengal government’s decisions and their transparency, and the case has become a critical point of inquiry between demands for justice and administrative policies.

The affected doctors and protesters have continued to raise their voices on the issue, and it will be interesting to see what further reactions emerge on the matter in the future.