AP
An on-duty medical officer of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Dr. Tapabrata Roy, was arrested on Tuesday evening during the Durga Puja Carnival, an event organized by the state government. The arrest occurred after he was seen wearing a t-shirt and badge supporting the ongoing junior doctors’ protest at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Dr. Roy, a member of the KMC medical team assigned to the event, was taken into custody from the Red Road area without prior notice.
Dr. Roy shared his experience after his release, explaining that the police did not inform him about the reason for his detention or where they were taking him. While on duty at the Red Road, officers approached him, took several photographs, and asked him to accompany them. Despite showing his official duty slip, which assigned him to work at the event, the police still detained him. "I was not told by the police where they were taking me after I was called by them while I was performing my duty on the Red Road. They clicked several photos of me. I had shown them my official duty slip, posting me on the Red Road," he said.
I was not told by the police where they were taking me after I was called by them while I was performing my duty on the Red Road. They clicked several photos of me. I had shown them my official duty slip, posting me on the Red Road.Dr. Tapabrata Roy
As news of Dr. Roy's arrest spread, his fellow medical professionals, along with other supporters, gathered at the Maidan police station to demand his immediate release. The growing public pressure led the police to release Dr. Roy later that evening on a personal bond. Reflecting on his experience, Dr. Roy explained that he was wearing a black t-shirt with the message “sirdara bikri nei,” which translates to "spine not for sale." He was also displaying a badge that read “protiki anoshon,” meaning “symbolic hunger strike,” a clear gesture of support for the junior doctors who had been fasting for 11 days, seeking justice for the rape and murder of a colleague at RG Kar Medical College.
Although the police did not provide a detailed explanation for the arrest, a representative of the Kolkata Police described it as a “preventive arrest,” meant to avoid any disruption during the carnival. Dr. Roy is stationed at KMC’s ward 123, which covers parts of the Barisha area in southwest Kolkata.
I was released on a personal bond.Dr. Tapabrata Roy
The standoff between the police and medical professionals regarding Dr. Roy’s arrest added further tension to an already volatile situation. The ongoing protests were initially sparked by the tragic rape and murder of a medical professional at the RG Kar hospital on August 9. The incident had led junior doctors to go on a hunger strike, demanding justice for their slain colleague. The Durga Puja Carnival, held with grandeur by the state government, coincided with the protest, adding more layers to the unrest.
The junior doctors’ protest was seen as a direct response to the government’s perceived inaction in providing security to healthcare professionals, particularly in the wake of the tragic incident. Dr. Roy’s arrest not only highlighted the growing divide between medical professionals and the state authorities but also brought additional attention to the ongoing demands for justice and improved conditions in hospitals. As the doctors continue their fast unto death, the situation remains tense, with no resolution in sight.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)