June 11

The NRS junior doctors started an indefinite strike, shutting down even the emergency wing of the hospital. The ripples of the protest reached other state and private hospitals. The same day, the BJP tried to paint the attack as communal by saying that a “particular community” was responsible. The patient who had died happened to be Muslim.

June 16

The junior doctors showed flexibility and a meeting was scheduled between the chief minister and the protesters on June 17 at 3 pm.

June 14

Mamata Banerjee invited the doctors for talks to the state secretariat. But some junior doctors were of the opinion that the chief minister should visit NRS Hospital. The strike continued.

June 13

Mamata went to Bengal’s main referral hospital, SSKM, and gave the junior doctors an ultimatum to join work in 4 hours or vacate the hostels. The same day the junior doctors’ arm of the Indian Medical Association spoke out for their Calcutta counterparts and announced a strike the next day. In Bengal, senior doctors started resigning to protest Mamata’s attitude.

June 17

Thirty junior doctors from Bengal’s medical colleges met the chief minister at Nabanna. They put forward a list of 12 demand, among these the requirement for pro-active security for them in hospitals and strict action against those who attack doctors. Both sides left saying that the talks were fruitful. The junior doctors said they would end their strike on Monday evening.

'Our meeting and discussion with the CM met a logical end. We temporarily withdraw from our ceasework. Considering everything, we expect the government to solve the issues as discussed in due time,' one of the junior doctors said after the meeting.

June 12

Mamata Banerjee deployed her nephew and party MP Abhishek Banerjee, along with health officials, to defuse the crisis. Although Abhishek said the incident was “condemnable”, the doctors did not end the strike and demanded that Mamata speak to them.

June 15

Mamata again invited the junior doctors for talks and assured them that their security demands would be met and no action would be taken against them.

Junior doctors in Bengal today ended their weeklong strike in state hospitals after discussions with chief minister Mamata Banerjee about security issues in hospitals.

What happened in Calcutta that triggered the protest on June 10 and why it lasted a week:

June 10

At 10.45 pm on Monday, two junior doctors in NRS Medical College and Hospital were assaulted by about 200 people after a septuagenarian patient died, the junior doctors said. Both the junior doctors suffered serious head injuries. The patient’s family had alleged medical negligence.

Junior doctors on strike in NRS Hospital. Telegraph file photo

Mamata Banerjee at the meeting with junior doctors and officials in Nabanna on June 17. PTI

Mamata Banerjee at SSKM Hospital on June 13. PTI file photo

Senior doctors leave SSKM Hospital after resigning. Telegraph file photo