The West Bengal government on Wednesday dismissed Suhrita Paul from her position as principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, just days after her appointment.
The decision followed a meeting between health officials and protesting students at Swasthya Bhavan on Wednesday, according to media reports.
The protests began with a march by medical students from the CGO Complex (CBI office) to Swasthya Bhavan, where they demanded Dr. Paul’s removal. She had been appointed principal following the resignation of Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who stepped down amidst public outrage over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the hospital.
In addition to Paul, the hospital superintendent and the head of the Chest Department were also dismissed from their roles, India Today reported.
Earlier in the day, students and resident doctors took to the streets, marching towards West Bengal’s Swasthya Bhavan in protest of the rape-murder. During a meeting with health department officials, they called for the removal of all senior administrative staff present during the vandalism that followed the incident.
A 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital in the early hours of August 9, sparking outrage across the medical community. Women took to the streets in protest, demanding justice.
Days following the incident, the hospital was attacked by a mob, resulting in multiple injuries. Police had to resort to firing tear gas shells to control the situation. Footage captured the mob vandalising the hospital’s emergency ward and damaging police vehicles stationed outside.