9 arrested for chanting support for Jr doctors outside Durga Puja pandal, special bench to hear case on Navami

During Kolkata's Durga Puja festivities, nine individuals were arrested for chanting slogans in support of junior doctors outside the 'Tridhara Sammilani' pandal on Saptami. This group aimed to show solidarity with the junior doctors, who are currently on strike, demanding improved working conditions, higher pay, and better healthcare resources. Their protests are part of a broader movement addressing grievances within the healthcare sector amid ongoing tensions.

The arrested individuals include Sujoy Mandal from Kulti, Uttaran Saha Roy from Dum Dum, Kushal Kar from Tengrakh, Jahar Sarkar and Sagnik Mukherjee from Narendrapur in South 24 Parganas, Nadim Hojari from Purba Bardhaman, Ritabrata Malik from Hasnabad, Chandrachur Chowdhury from Khardah in North 24 Parganas, and Driptaman Ghosh from Rahara. Police stated that the protesters had pre-planned their demonstration, citing evidence from their WhatsApp chats. However, the defense argued that chanting slogans is not a criminal act and questioned the legality of the arrests.

Following their detention, the families of the arrested filed a petition in the Kolkata High Court, challenging the lower court's decision that had placed the individuals in seven days of police custody. In response, the High Court formed a special bench to expedite the hearing, which is scheduled for Durga Puja's Navami. This legal move highlights the ongoing struggle for the rights of the detained individuals and the larger movement of the junior doctors.

Simultaneously, the junior doctors' strike and hunger strike at Dharamtala continue, significantly impacting healthcare services in the region. Their protest has garnered attention from prominent figures, including West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose and actress Aparna Sen, who visited the hunger strike site to express solidarity.