West Bengal News Desk: A demonstration that seemed to lack fizz on Wednesday looked like it was regaining steam on Thursday.
There was a steady stream of people headed to the protest site from Thursday afternoon.
A 78-year-old man from Madhyamgram arrived carrying a box of hand fans shortly after 2pm. Within 10 minutes the box he was carrying was empty.
Arunava Das, a retired schoolteacher, was seen fanning a group of junior doctors while they were having lunch sitting on cots.
More than 30 pedestal fans put up at the site had been removed on Wednesday night.
On Thursday morning, many protesters were seen using hand fans, as it was hot and sultry.
Many junior doctors who had returned to their hospitals and hostels were also back at the site.
The group of doctors who had gone to Nabanna on Wednesday evening huddled in a general body meeting in the afternoon.
A junior doctor who was part of the team said a room had been opened for them on the campus of a private university nearby.
After the general body meeting ended, the junior doctors announced on Thursday night that they will resume “essential services” in hospitals from Saturday.
The sit-in outside Swasthya Bhavan will end on Friday with a march to the CBI office, they said.
Before the junior doctors headed to the general body meeting, a post was put up on the official Facebook page of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF).
The post said that after Wednesday night’s meeting at Nabanna, many junior doctors had returned to their medical colleges for discussions. The post appealed to people to gather at the protest site.
It read: “As our numbers had thinned out at the protest site it has led to confusion. Confusion has also spread regarding funds. We also received news about the decorators being pressured by the police. We have sorted these matters for the time being. There is no reason to panic.
“Junior doctors are headed here from different colleges. Please come in front of Swasthya Bhavan. We have not received any written order or directive from the government. We are going to open Abhaya clinics in flood-affected areas as well as send relief materials there.”
Since Thursday morning, many social media posts said the protest site in front of Swasthya Bhavan was being dismantled.
The posts prompted many like New Town resident Swaralipi Dasgupta to visit the site to check for herself.
“I came here as there are many posts claiming that the site is being dismantled as the junior doctors are not here. When I came here in the afternoon, I saw many people here and have decided to stay back till the doctors decide on something,” said Dasgupta.
A fresh set of around 20 fans arrived around 5pm. Workmen who were unloading the fans said a Salt Lake resident had sent them.
In the evening, many people joined the protesters to show solidarity with the movement. The area in front of Swasthya Bhavan resembled its usual bustling self, more like a fairground.
The slogans and songs that had died down on Wednesday night and were few and far between on Thursday morning, gained tempo in the evening. Protesters milling around makeshift cots joined in. Many had brought small drums.
Cries of “We want justice” and “We demand justice” filled the air. The usual scenes of women blowing conch shells and ululating were back, too.
Nimta resident Rupak Das Rai, a 78-year-old retired professional, came in the afternoon.
“My son was taken to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital after he suffered a heat stroke. I saw how they tried to save him. They failed but had made every effort. I am here to show my support,” said Rai.
There was a flurry at the food kiosks as many packets with cakes, biscuits and snacks started arriving.
A delivery executive for a food aggregator told this newspaper that he brought 25 food packets and delivered them at the kiosk.
“The woman who had booked the order told me not to divulge her name. I have been doing similar deliveries here since the time they gathered here,” said the man before pedalling away.
Around 7.30pm, a bus carrying several junior doctors from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital reached the site.
“We cannot deny that carrying on with the movement in this form is very tiring. We have been spending nights in the open and our exams are nearing,” said a junior doctor.
The junior doctors had been on strike since the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
They had been laying siege to Swasthya Bhavan since September 10.
