In a dramatic turn of events, RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata has expelled ten individuals, including doctors and house staff, on Saturday. The expulsions were sparked by a series of allegations, including sexual harassment, extortion, and other forms of misconduct. This action comes amidst an ongoing indefinite hunger strike launched by junior doctors at the hospital, who are demanding improved working conditions and support in the wake of a recent rape and murder case that shook the city.
According to a report by the Indian Express, the decision to expel the individuals was made during a special college council meeting. An Institutional Enquiry Committee had found several staff members and students guilty of various offenses, with some names being forwarded to the Internal Complaints Committee due to “substantial evidence of sexual harassment against women.”
Among those expelled is Ashish Pandey, a house staff member closely associated with former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh. Ghosh was arrested last month in connection with the Kolkata rape-murder case and is currently facing scrutiny from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for a litany of other allegations.
The report details a disturbing pattern of misconduct, including threats of academic failure or expulsion from the university hostel. The accused staff members are also alleged to have coerced juniors into joining a particular political party, engaged in sexual harassment, and forcibly collected money from students. The report further states that students, irrespective of their gender, were forced to attend the boys’ common room to endure “DIASING” – a form of physical and mental torture – or to perform obscene acts. Juniors were also reportedly forced to purchase drugs and alcohol at odd hours.
The current crisis at RG Kar Hospital has its roots in the tragic rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor in August. This incident sparked vehement protests from junior doctors, who have been demanding improvements in their working conditions and greater safety measures. While the Mamata Banerjee-led government offered assurances last month, leading to a partial resumption of work by the junior doctors, their demands have not been fully met. The recent hunger strike is a clear indication of their frustration and determination to see their demands fulfilled.
“We came to Dharmatala yesterday with 10 demands…We were given assurances after which we returned to our jobs, but now we will sit on a hunger strike till our demands are fulfilled…Ever since the RG Kar incident on August 9, we have seen a great deal of carelessness by the Police,” alleged a protesting junior doctor.
The agitators are resolute in their stance, stating that they are not seeking any support from the police or state administration but simply want their demands addressed. “We are not getting any support from the police and state administration but we do not want any support, we just want our demands to be fulfilled,” Aniket Mahato, a protesting junior doctor, added.
The expulsions and the ongoing hunger strike have cast a dark shadow over RG Kar Hospital, highlighting the deep-rooted issues that need to be addressed to restore the institution’s reputation and ensure the safety and well-being of all its staff and students.
