51 ex-principal Sandip Ghosh 'aides' barred from RG Kar campus, called for probe

KOLKATA: In a major shake-up, RG Kar Medical College & Hospital authority has summoned 34 junior doctors and 17 students for an inquiry and barred them from campus. Sources said all were close to arrested ex-principal Sandip Ghosh and held sway at the hospital during his reign.

The only time the 51 individuals can enter RG Kar is for the inquiry. Though several medical colleges have acted against some junior doctors or students close to the so-called lobby since the junior doctors' agitation began, the latest crackdown at RG Kar is the largest so far. "North Bengal lobby" refers to the influential alumni of North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri that is blamed for many of the ills plaguing Bengal's healthcare system. Ghosh is allegedly part of the lobby.

A special college council meeting on Monday decided to crack the whip on the 51 following a complaint by Resident Doctors' Association of RG Kar. "All have been accused of intimidating other junior doctors and students. We want to ensure a congenial study and working environment on the campus and hence, a special council committee has decided to launch an inquiry against these 51 individuals," said an RG Kar official.

"Some of them were the right-hand men of Sandip Ghosh. They would decide on how much marks a student would score. Students who did not comply with their demands would get supplementary (exam). They had inflicted a reign of terror," said a second-year student.

Two interns on the list of 51 were among 11 members of an internal committee Ghosh had constituted on the Aug 9 rape and murder of the 31-year-old PGT doctor.

All the 51 individuals had protested against Ghosh's transfer to Murshidabad Medical College and prevented Manas Bandyopadhyay from taking charge in Sept last year.