Kolkata: In response to mounting protests over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the West Bengal government has removed Dr. Surhita Paul from her position as principal. The decision was made on Wednesday amid escalating tensions at the institution.Students demand lead to dismissalsIn addition to Dr. Paul, the Head of the Chest Department and an Assistant Superintendent were also dismissed from their roles. These actions follow relentless demonstrations by students and medical staff demanding accountability and justice for the tragic incident.Earlier in the day, a large group of senior doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals from various colleges across the state organized a march to the state health department headquarters. They staged a protest outside the premises until representatives of the demonstrators were granted a meeting with top officials of the department. A memorandum was submitted during this meeting, urging immediate action.Principals absence raises concernsOur newly-appointed principal, Dr. Surhita Pal, has been absent since the night the hospital was vandalized. She is supposed to be our guardian, but she has not returned to campus. We have heard she is operating out of Shwasthya Bhavan, so we are heading there to find her, stated a junior doctor involved in the protests.Further actions against former principal Sandip GhoshProtesters have called for the removal of all administrative heads at the hospital, including the Medical Superintendent Cum Vice Principal (MSVP) and the Principal. Further complicating matters, the Health Department has also rescinded the appointment of former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College. Despite his recent resignation, Ghoshs troubles have deepened as he continues to face scrutiny from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On Wednesday, he was questioned by the CBI for the sixth consecutive day.
