'Feeling weak physically but mentally strong': RG Kar junior doctors show resilience on day 5 of 'fast unto death' protest

The seven junior doctors are camped at Esplanade, the downtown Kolkata, where the support from common people is swelling despite police's strong discouragement.

"The body has started to betray now. I am feeling dehydrated no matter how much water we drink. I am feeling weak but mentally I am strong and hopefully will remain resilient throughout," one of the protesters, who is fasting, said.

The junior doctors have planned a blood donation camp at RG Kar as well as carry a symbolic 'A woman in pain' statue while visiting various pandals across the city on Wednesday, which marks Sasthi or the sixth day of Navaratri.

The junior medics have planned to distribute leaflets on their 10-point agenda to the visitors at various pandals in the city, which is now decked up for Durga Puja.

The protests escalated largely on Tuesday after about 50 senior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital submitted a symbolic mass resignation in solidarity with their juniors.

As the mass resignation is symbolic, the senior doctors haven't stopped attending patients as of now.

Nabanna, the state secretariat, has reportedly claimed it didn't receive any resignation letter from the senior doctors.

The junior doctors launched their hunger strike on Saturday night after the state government failed to meet their 24-hour deadline for addressing their demands, which expired at 8:30 pm that evening.

Their agitation began earlier on Friday with a sit-in demonstration following an alleged assault by Kolkata Police personnel.

To ensure transparency, the protesting medics have installed CCTV cameras at the site where the hunger strike is taking place.

The six doctors leading the fast include Snigdha Hazra, Tanaya Panja, Anustup Mukhopadhyay, Arnab Mukhopadhyay, Pulastha Acharya, and Sayantani Ghosh Hazra.

Public support has grown, with large crowds and a few celebrities joining the protest since Saturday night.

Despite calling off their "total cease work" strike, which had severely impacted healthcare services at state-run medical colleges and hospitals, the junior doctors remain firm in their demands.

The protesters highlighted that securing justice for their colleague, who was brutally raped and murdered within the RG Kar premises while on duty, remains their primary goal, the eport said.

They also listed nine other demands, including the removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam, accountability for alleged administrative failures, and systemic reforms.

Their demands include a centralised referral system for hospitals, improved monitoring of bed vacancies, and task forces to ensure provisions for essential facilities like CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms, according to the report.

The doctors are also calling for increased police protection in hospitals, recruitment of permanent women police personnel, and the swift filling of vacancies for healthcare workers.

The junior doctors' initial protest began after the rape and murder at Kar Medical College and Hospital on the intervening night of August 8 and 9.

After a 42-day strike, they ended their protest on September 21, following assurances from the state government to address their concerns.

However, with the government’s lack of follow-through, the doctors have resumed their agitation.