Doctors Allege Targeted Harassment Amid R.G. Kar Protest Fallout

Kolkata, West Bengal: On the eve of Republic Day, senior and junior doctors in West Bengal have alleged targeted harassment by authorities following their protests over the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College. The tragic incident last year sparked widespread outrage, with demands for better security and accountability across the state’s medical community.

Four senior government hospital doctors — Dr. Manas Gumta, Dr. Utpal Banerjee, Dr. Subarna Goswami, and Dr. Ranjan Bhattacharya — found complaints lodged against them by the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) for allegedly obstructing its work. Dr. Subarna Goswami criticized the WBMC, claiming their actions aimed to suppress the movement and protect corrupt practices.

Other doctors, such as Dr. Tapas Pramanick and junior residents like Dr. Asfakullah Naiya and Dr. Kinjal Nanda, have faced various allegations ranging from malpractice to inappropriate professional conduct. Dr. Naiya condemned the raids on his home as politically motivated, while Dr. Nanda dismissed inquiries into his personal life as overreach.

The suspensions of 12 doctors tied to the "expired saline case" at Medinipur Medical College have added to the growing discontent among the state’s medical fraternity, with many labeling these actions a diversion from core issues.

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed the complaints, framing the unrest as internal disagreements among doctors, further fueling tensions.

The protests and allegations highlight ongoing struggles within West Bengal’s healthcare system, as professionals push back against what they perceive as politically charged attempts to silence dissent.