The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, issued an official notice on August 16, announcing the transfer of 42 faculty members across various state medical colleges.
Those affected are Dr Sangeeta Paul and Dr Supriya Das, who previously served at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.
The transfers follow ongoing protests across the state and nation after the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar earlier this month. The incident has sparked widespread concern over workplace safety for medical professionals.
Alongside the faculty reshuffle, the Directorate of Health Services, Nursing Branch, also transferred 190 female health assistants per a notice dated August 16. The United Doctors Front Association (UDFA) strongly condemned the transfers, labelling them as an "attempt to break our solidarity." In a tweet, the UDFA demanded justice and called for the immediate reversal of the transfers, asserting that such measures would not silence their demands for justice and security.
Nationwide protests have drawn participation from medical students and faculty members, with many interpreting the transfers as a strategy to suppress dissent. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also criticized the government's actions, adding to the growing controversy surrounding the incident and the subsequent administrative decisions.
