RG Kar Case: Protesting Doctors Defy SC's Return-To-Work Deadline; Distrust Grows After Mamata’s Invite | Updates

Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder: Protesting junior doctors across West Bengal defied the Supreme Court directive requiring them to resume work by 5 pm on Tuesday, with their collective voice vowing to continue the protest until their demands are met and justice is delivered in the case pertaining to the alleged rape and murder of a trainee medico at Kolkata's state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH).

This came as the disrust between the protesting doctors and the West Bengal government appeared to deepen further over an ostensibly miscalculated move on the latter's part. On Tuesday, the state government said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the protesters, inviting them for talks to resolve the impasse.

KOLKATA RAPE-MURDER: DOCTORS SLAM 'INSULTING' INVITE

Reacting to CM Mamata Banerjee's proposal for a meeting, the protesting doctors slammed the state government and said it was "insulting" that the mail for the talks was sent by the office of state Health Secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam, one of the officials whose resignation is among the demands set forth by the agitating medicos.

The call for the meeting was ignored by the protesting doctors. "The e-mail we have got from the Principal Secretary states that we should go to Nabanna with 10 representatives and meet them. Our demands are clear. We have been protesting for the last 31 days and our demands are clear even to the locals. When we are sitting here, then why are you calling us there? We will reply to them," Dr Aqeeb, one of the protesting doctors said.

RG KAR CASE: PROTEST SHIFTS TO SWASTHYA BHAVAN

On Tuesday, the protesting doctors rallied towards 'Swasthya Bhavan', the headquarters of the West Bengal Health Department, and staged a sit-in in front of the state government establishment.

RG KAR SUMMONS PROTESTING DOCTORS

Meanwhile, the administration of RGKMCH issued notices to 51 doctors, including to senior residents and professors, asking them to appear before an inquiry committee on September 11. The summoned doctors have been accused of fostering intimidation and disrupting the institution's democratic atmosphere.

(With inputs from agencies)