A fil image of Junior doctors’ dharna in the RG Kar Hospital
| Photo Credit: PTI

The parents of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered while on duty at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) on August 9 last year have come out in support of the junior doctors who recently alleged that they are being handed “punishment postings” for their participation in protests following the incident.

“It is clear that they are being made to suffer because they spoke up and demanded justice for our daughter. We believe there is a plan to hound them out of the city, silence their voices and break the movement,” the victim’s mother told The Hindu on Wednesday (May 28, 2025).

The brutal crime had triggered a wave of protests across the State, especially within the medical community. Several junior doctors who were active during the agitation have alleged targeted administrative actions by the government.

“The junior doctors have remained in touch with us after all the media attention has died down. The doctors, like us, want justice for our daughter and have vowed to continue to fight for justice,” the victim’s mother added.

On Tuesday (May 27, 2025), three junior doctors – Aniket Mahato, Debasish Halder, and Asfakullah Naiya – who were at the forefront of the protest movement, claimed they were allotted postings as senior residents in hospitals they had not opted for during the merit-based counselling process.

“We met with the Health Secretary, the Special Secretary and the Director of Medical Education. We are not against serving in remote locations, but we take issue with these postings being allotted to us illegally, bypassing the merit-based counselling system. We have submitted a written statement of our grievances to them, and we are exploring legal action,” Dr. Mahato said.

The parents of the deceased doctor have also voiced support for the schoolteachers protesting the cancellation of their job appointments following a Supreme Court order in April.

“They are being treated so severely by the law enforcement for allegedly damaging public property during their protest, while the mob that vandalised RGKMCH on August 14 night was let off easy,” the victim’s father said.

For context, several protesting teachers have been booked following clashes with police during a demonstration outside the Education Department headquarters on May 15, which resulted in injuries to both protestors and police personnel.