Kolkata Rape-Murder Row: School Students Cannot Participate in Protests, Mamata Govt Issues Circular

Kolkata: The office of the District Inspector of Schools (Secondary Education) has issued a notification prohibiting school students from participating in any programs or protests not organized by the education department. The directive, which was sent to the heads of educational institutions on Thursday, states that students are prohibited from taking part in any activities outside the scope of the department's programs.

This notification comes a day after students from several schools were seen participating in protest rallies, in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding the RG Kar Medical College case. As per the circular, students cannot participate in any protest or program apart from the education department program.

Doctors in West Bengal are protesting against the rape and murder of a doctor in the RG Kar Hospital. Despite the Supreme Court's appeal, some doctors had announced to continue their strike. The Supreme Court had promised that "no harsh measures" would be taken against the protesting doctors. 

However, resident doctors at AIIMS, Delhi, and RML Hospital announced that they were withdrawing their 11-day strike following an appeal from the Supreme Court. The apex court earlier in the day asked the protesting doctors to resume work and assured them that no adverse action would be taken after they rejoined.

The assault and murder of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital sparked nationwide protests. On August 12, resident doctors' associations started a nationwide protest, halting outpatient department (OPD) services. However, emergency services continued as usual.

The junior doctor's body was found on August 9 with severe injury marks inside the seminar hall of the state-run hospital's chest department. A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection with the case the next day. On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe from the Kolkata Police to the CBI, which started its investigation on August 14.