Written By: Reshmi Dasgupta

News18.com

Last Updated: August 20, 2024, 15:21 IST

New Delhi, India

Doctors with others take part in a protest march against the sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor, in Kolkata, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (PTI Photo)

The age-old phrase ‘Vinash Kaale Vipreet Buddhi’ was top of my mind as the events unfolded on Rakshabandhan Day in Kolkata. The irony of summoning two highly respected, senior Kolkata doctors to Police Headquarters—Lalbazar—just for demanding justice for the rape-murder victim (now named “Tilottama”) on the very day when sisters tied rakhis on the wrists of their brothers with the inherent promise of protection and love, clearly escaped the city’s police brass.

So the police were taken aback when instead of two doctors and their lawyers, a sea of humanity—all medics—marched to the gates of Lalbazar with them. Then came the equally unprecedented spectacle of the gates of the venerable building being shut and chained to prevent hundreds of doctors from entering to stand with their medical brethren. As expected, the two gentlemen were let off in an hour, making it very apparent that the intention was only to intimidate.

And to drive the message home, the ruling party spokespersons began to cast aspersions on the doctors’ solidarity, claiming the people of Bengal were getting angry with the medics for “neglecting” their duties by continuing their protests. They hinted that patients were being “diverted” to private hospitals on purpose, and that the doctors were not really rallying for........

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