Traffic chokes on C.R. Avenue due to Jr doctors protest rally

Today marks three months since the tragic rape-murder of postgraduate trainee Abhaya at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, sparking widespread protests and calls for justice. Junior doctors from across the state are participating in a series of protests, organized by the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front (WBJDF), to demand accountability and faster action in the case. The WBJDF organized a citizens' march from College Square to Esplanade, which began at 3 pm, while also hosting a Gallery of Rebellion (Droher Gallery) at multiple medical colleges across West Bengal to raise awareness and keep the case in the public eye. At 4 pm, Abhaya Mancha, a social-democratic platform, gathered at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, where they presented a “public charge-sheet” to further emphasize the need for swift legal action in the case.

Alongside these activities, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Association (WBJDA) is hosting a mass convention at Star Theatre, which began at 3 pm. The WBJDA's primary demand is for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit the final charge sheet as soon as possible. The WBJDA has been vocal about its dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the investigation, despite the CBI taking over the case in the days following the crime. In a statement, a WBJDA office-bearer said, “So many days have passed since the CBI took over the investigation, but there has been no visible progress.” The association is also calling for the rapid progression of the trial process once the charge sheet is submitted.

The rape-murder of Abhaya, which occurred on August 9, remains one of the most horrific crimes in recent memory, prompting outrage within the medical community and beyond. Abhaya, a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was brutally assaulted and killed, sparking protests from medical professionals and students across India. While protests have diminished somewhat since the initial outcry, they continue in Kolkata as the investigation remains ongoing. The CBI's involvement in the case has not yet yielded any formal updates, especially regarding the charge sheet, which has been a point of frustration for the medical community and Abhaya’s family.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday declined to shift the rape and murder trial of the Kolkata doctor outside West Bengal. The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, affirmed that the trial court judge possessed adequate authority to order additional investigations if deemed necessary after evidence review. The court also reviewed the CBI's sixth status report regarding the case but withheld further comments as investigations are ongoing. On November 4, charges against the main accused, Sanjay Roy, were framed in a Kolkata court, and daily trial proceedings are set to begin on November 11.