Chhatra Samaj's Sayan Lahiri freed from police custody, vows to keep fighting

Kolkata Police on Saturday released Sayan Lahiri, convener of the Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj who had called a protest march to the Secretariat on August 27 over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a city hospital earlier in the month. The Calcutta High Court had ordered his release on Friday.

"The fight we started got meaningful on Nabanna Abhijan and it will be considered a success the day we get justice for our sister," Lahiri said after his release.

"Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has extended legal support," Lahiri said, adding that he was arrested at night after he participated in a television show.


Apart from directing Kolkata Police to arrange for the release of Lahiri by 2 PM on Saturday, the single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha also instructed that no coercive action should be taken against him in the matter.

Telemedicine Clinic

Meanwhile, the protesting doctors of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital--where the trainee doctor was killed--have set up a telemedicine clinic that will function for four hours every day (10 am to 2 pm), starting August 31. The strike being observed by the junior doctors in all government-run hospitals of the state, entered its 21st day on Saturday.

The clinic, named "Abhaya Clinic", is operational in several hospitals, including Medinipur and Medical College & Hospital and RG Kar Medical College.