Junior doctors during their second day of ‘dharna’ over the R.G. Kar Hospital rape and murder incident, near Swasthya Bhawan in Kolkata on Wednesday (September 11, 2024). | Photo Credit: PTI In a fresh letter to the agitating junior doctors, the West Bengal Government on Thursday (September 12, 2024) issued an invite for talks at 5 p.m. to end the impasse over the rape and murder of a woman medic at the R.G. Kar hospital in Kolkata.While the Government accepted the doctors’ demand for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s presence at the meeting, it rejected their prerequisite of a live telecast of the talks and restricted the delegation’s strength to not more than 15 people as against the protesters’ wish for 30 members.Kolkata doctors’ protest live updates – September 12, 2024The letter addressed by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to the agitating junior doctors, who have stayed put in a sit-in before Swasthya Bhavan, the State Health Department headquarters in Salt Lake, for nearly 48 hours, states that the Government was “open to meeting the delegates to ensure smooth functioning of the healthcare infrastructure in the State”, but “cannot be in any manner contrary to the directions passed by the Supreme Court for resumption of work”.This is the third communication from the Government to the doctors in the last two days, with the protesters rejecting the previous two proposals and setting concrete conditions for the meeting.”The meeting shall not be Live telecast. However, the same can be recorded to maintain transparency. This will serve the purpose intended from your end, while also maintaining the sanctity of the proceedings, ensuring that all discussions are accurately documented,” the Chief Secretary stated in his letter.The protesting doctors are yet to respond to the communication.Unattended bag triggers panicAn unattended bag at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata triggered panic, following which a bomb disposal squad rushed to the spot on Thursday (September 12, 2024).According to TV visuals, the bomb disposal squad along with sniffer dogs were investigating the site, the place where the junior doctors have been protesting since August 9. Presently, the spot is vacant as the medics are protesting outside Swasthya Bhavan in Salt Lake.According to police sources, no evidence of any harmful objects has been recovered yet.“The bomb disposal squad is inspecting the bag,” a police official said. Published – September 12, 2024 03:29 pm IST