Kolkata Doctors 'Unhappy' After 2nd Round of Talks With Mamata Govt; Strike to Continue

Kolkata: The investigation in the Kolkata Rape and Murder Case is underway and in a latest update, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has questioned Dr Anjan Adhikari, a senior government doctor and MSVP of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, over his ties with TMC MLA Sudipto Roy. In another update, since the talks with the state government remained inconclusive, the doctors' protest continues in the West Bengal capital.

CBI Questions Senior Govt Doctor over ‘Ties’ with Sudipto Roy

The CBI on Wednesday questioned a senior government doctor in connection with its investigation into the rape-murder of the medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, officials said. Dr Anjan Adhikari, the medical superintendent-cum-vice principal (MSVP) of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, was questioned by the CBI at its office in the CGO Complex in Salt Lake, they said.

He was summoned for questioning after CBI officers found his phone number in the call list of TMC MLA Sudipto Roy, who is also the chairman of the patient welfare committee of the RG Kar hospital, they added. "He was asked about his relationship with Sudipto Roy, and what subjects they used to talk," a CBI officer said.

‘No Questions Asked Regarding RG Kar Case’

While coming out of the CBI office after the questioning ended around 9.15 pm, Adhikari told reporters that no specific question was asked about the RG Kar hospital case. "They suddenly called me to appear this evening. I was asked about my calls with Dr Roy. There was no specific question regarding the RG Kar case," he said.

Kolkata Case: 2nd Round of Talks Inconclusive, Doctors Protest Continues

The second round of talks between junior doctors and the West Bengal government to break their strike remained "inconclusive" as the medics claimed they were "unhappy" with the outcome and will continue with their agitation and cease work movement. The talks, which were held on the 40th day of the strike, failed to resolve the impasse following the state government's refusal to hand over written minutes of the talks, the doctors claimed.  

The doctors said that although the government agreed with them on several points and gave "verbal assurances," they were not given the minutes of the meeting despite several requests. The government did however issue unsigned minutes of the meeting later. "We are not happy with the outcome of the meeting. Although the state government agreed with a lot of issues regarding safety and security in hospitals, they did not give us any concrete assurances," said a doctor after coming out of the meeting at Nabanna.

A trainee doctor of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, who was on a 36-hour duty, was brutally raped and murdered on August 9, in the hospital's seminar room. The rape and murder of Abhaya sparked nationwide protests seeking justice for her and better safety arrangements for female doctors and women in general, in India. The case is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and so far, three arrests have been made - main accused Sanjoy Roy, ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh and Talapur Police Station SHO Abhijit Mondal.

(Inputs from PTI)