KOLKATA: In response to ongoing protests by doctors, the Indian state of West Bengal has agreed to remove the police chief of its capital, Kolkata, along with two other senior officials. The decision follows a meeting with doctors demanding justice for their colleague who was raped and murdered.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Kolkata Police Commissioner would be removed on Tuesday evening. Furthermore, the state will replace the director of medical education and the director of health services. The move comes after a five-hour meeting with a delegation of protesting doctors.
The protests began on August 9 after the body of a 31-year-old female doctor was discovered at the state-run hospital where she worked. This tragic event has ignited widespread outrage and raised serious concerns about the safety of health workers in India. A hospital volunteer has been arrested in connection with the case, which is now under investigation by a federal agency.
The striking doctors have been vocal about their demands, which include justice for the victim, the removal of senior police officials, and enhanced security for healthcare professionals. While the removal of these officials has been confirmed, the protesters have stated they will determine their next actions based on the fulfillment of all their demands.
The murder has prompted intense public reaction, particularly in West Bengal. Large-scale protests have taken place, including the Reclaim the Night march on August 14, where tens of thousands of women rallied for “freedom and safety.”
Although protests have subsided in other parts of India, Kolkata’s doctors remain steadfast, maintaining their camps outside the state’s health department headquarters despite a Supreme Court order to resume work. The government had previously offered a meeting with the chief minister, which the doctors insisted on livestreaming—a request the government declined.
The state government has faced criticism from courts for its handling of the case, though it denies any wrongdoing. The government has reported that 23 people have died due to lack of medical services during the strike, a claim disputed by the doctors who assert that emergency services have remained operational.
On Monday, Banerjee assured that no punitive action would be taken against the striking doctors. In response to the incident, her government has announced new measures to improve women’s safety in workplaces, including designated retiring rooms and CCTV-monitored “safe zones” at state-run hospitals.
India’s Supreme Court has described the incident as having “shocked the conscience of the nation” and criticized the authorities for their handling of the investigation.
