Authorities at the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMCH) on the outskirts of Siliguri have taken the dual initiative to enhance digital surveillance and increase the number of security personnel across the campus.

“After the RG Kar crime, we have installed 112 new CCTV cameras in two phases in the NBMCH. As of now, 210 CCTV cameras are operational across the campus. The new cameras have increased the area of coverage under digital surveillance,” said Sanjoy Mallick, the NBMCH medical superintendent-cum-vice principal.

Sixty additional private security personnel have been deployed on the 104-acre campus.

“Earlier, 80 private security personnel were posted at the NBMCH. Now, the number has been increased to 140, which we believe will help to ensure the safety of doctors and others here,” Mallick added.

After the rape and murder of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta, questions have been raised over the safety of doctors and other staff at the state-run healthcare establishments.

On Saturday, as junior doctors spoke to chief minister Mamata Banerjee over the phone, they underscored the need to augment safety in their workplaces.

NBMCH authorities have also taken up the task of building 50 new washrooms on the campus, a decision taken after the RG Kar incident.

“The state PWD was assigned the task and 45 washrooms have been built. Work is on to build five more,” said a source.

Hunger strike

Sandip Mondal, a postgraduate student at the NBMCH's ENT department, continued with his indefinite hunger strike for the sixth day on Saturday. Apart from the fasting junior doctors in Calcutta, Sandip is the only one in the state currently participating in the fast-unto-death strike over the 10-point demand placed before the state government. “There is an anomaly in his blood parameters and he has become weak,” said a junior doctor.