- Sunday, March 09, 2025
The disciplinary committee of the IMA unanimously decided to suspend Ghosh, who is the vice president of the association’s Kolkata branch
By: Shajil Kumar
THE Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday suspended the membership of former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Dr Sandip Ghosh, amid a CBI probe into the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at the Kolkata-based institute earlier this month.
The decision to suspend the IMA membership of Ghosh, who is the vice president of the association’s Kolkata branch, was taken by its disciplinary committee.
In an order, the Indian Medical Association said the committee constituted by IMA national president Dr R V Asokan on Wednesday suo-motu considered the rape and murder case of the postgraduate resident doctor and the subsequent developments at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The IMA general secretary along with Asokan had met the victim’s parents at their home, it said.
“They had put up their grievances against you (Ghosh) in dealing with the situation as well as lack of empathy and sensitivity in handling the issue in appropriate manner befitting the responsibility held by you in your dealings with them,” the order said.
“The IMA Bengal state branch as well as certain associations’ of doctors also have demanded action citing the nature of disrepute brought by you to the profession on the whole,” it said.
The order said the disciplinary committee of the IMA has “unanimously decided to suspend you forthwith from the membership of Indian Medical Association.”
BJP bandh evokes mixed impact
Sporadic instances of violence marked the BJP-sponsored 12-hour shutdown in West Bengal on Wednesday which had a mixed impact in the wake of bandh supporters clashing with the police and ruling Trinamool Congress workers at several pockets of the state.
The most significant of these clashes was reported from Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district where the BJP alleged that TMC goons fired multiple rounds on its local leader Priyangu Pandey’s car and shared a purported video of the crime on social media platforms.
Although Pandey escaped unhurt, the vehicle’s driver and a party worker sustained bullet injuries on their heads and were admitted to a private hospital, BJP leaders claimed.
Police said that the two men were beaten up by some people outside the local Anglo-India Jute Mill.
The violence was followed by a showdown between local BJP leader Arjun Singh and his TMC counterpart Somnath Shyam, with both leaders and their supporters standing face to face in altercation further triggering tensions and the police finding it tough to disperse the warring groups.
Several BJP leaders, including former MPs Roopa Ganguly and Locket Chatterjee, Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya and MLA Agnimitra Paul, were detained for blocking roads and urging people to enforce the bandh since morning.
The ‘Bangla Bandh’, which began at 6 am, was called to protest Tuesday’s police action on participants of ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ or march to the secretariat, organised by the newly formed students’ group Chatra Samaj over the alleged rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital.
The shutdown partially affected daily life in the state with many people choosing to remain indoors apprehending trouble outside.
Most jute mills, save a few in North and South 24 Parganas districts, remained operational during the day, Indian Jute Mills Association chairman Raghvendra Gupta said.
Port operations were also normal. Both the dock systems Kolkata Docks and Haldia were functional, Syama Prasad Mookherjee Port spokesperson Sanjay Mukherjee said.
There was no impact of the bandh on the Information Technology sector and major industrial houses, a business chamber official said.
Doctors reject Mamata appeal
The agitating junior doctors in West Bengal, who have been continuing ceasework for 20 days to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a medic, on Wednesday rejected Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s appeal to join duty.
A member of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum said they would not withdraw the agitation unless their demands, such as justice for the deceased postgraduate trainee of the RG Kar hospital, were met.
They also demanded the suspension of Dr Sandip Ghosh from the health services and the same action against the Kolkata police commissioner.
The doctor’s forum took out a rally in Shyambazar area in the northern part of Kolkata to press their demands.
