• Source:JND
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Bengal Murder Case: Hundreds of people from various walks of life gathered across Kolkata on Wednesday night, demanding justice for a murdered woman doctor at the state-run R G Kar hospital last month. The gathering was held to press for a swift probe into the heinous crime and the arrest of the guilty. Echoing the 'Reclaim the Night' movement of August 14 midnight, people assembled at various places such as New Town's Biswa Bangla Gate, Shyambazar, Sinthir More, Sodpur Traffic More, Hazra More, Jadavpur 8B bus stand, Lake Gardens, and Behala Sakher Bazar to demand justice for the doctor. 

According to news agency PTI, Bengali film personalities Swastika Mukherjee and Sohini Sarkar joined gatherings at Golf Green and Shyambazar, respectively, supporting the call for justice and freedom from oppression. Earlier in the day, several lawyers formed human chains outside Calcutta High Court and Bankshall Court, advocating for justice for the victim. Following this, Bankshall Court lawyers participated in a rally for the doctor.

IMA Urges Protesting Doctors To Resume Work

The Indian Medical Association president, Dr R V Asokan, on Wednesday urged all doctors to resume work, leaving the job of delivering justice to the Supreme Court. In a statement, the IMA chief said that the rape and murder of the trainee postgraduate woman doctor at the West Bengal government-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital have moved the nation's conscience.

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"The anger and frustration of the entire nation is over the fact that she happened to be a budding doctor as well as that she was the only girl child of lower-middle-class parents. The entire nation has adopted her as their daughter," the IMA chief said.

Asokan, referring to the protests by doctors across the country, said that the medical fraternity was "justifiably on the boil". Resident doctors hit the road with anger and deep sorrow, he said adding the IMA had also called for withdrawal of medical services, barring emergency care for 24 hours.

Sandip Ghosh Moves SC Challenging HC Order

The former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Calcutta High Court order dismissing his plea to be added as a party to a petition alleging financial irregularities at the institute during his tenure. Earlier, the high court ordered the transfer of the probe into the alleged financial irregularities from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

RG Kar Victim's Family Counsel Calls Bengal Anti-Rape Bill 'Useless'

CPI(M) MP and counsel for the RG Kar victim's family, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's move to introduce an anti-rape bill, Aparajita, calling it "absolutely useless". He said that the bill was aimed at confronting the central government rather than genuinely addressing the issue. He also alleged that  Banerjee's bill is a mere eyewash and an attempt to divert the attention of the people from the main issue.

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"They have the legislative power to enact a law, and accordingly, they have brought a bill but this is absolutely useless. No agency can complete an investigation within a limited period and then go for trial and finish it in a certain time. These are all populistic jargon. It will ultimately fetch no benefit to anybody. This will give her another step forward to fight against the centre because, most likely, this bill will not be approved by the President. They will go on shouting against the centre again, that is the reason behind introducing this bill. Nothing else," Bikash Ranjan said.

(With input from agencies)

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