The hunger strike started last Monday by the junior doctors in North Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMCH), on the outskirts of Siliguri, completed a week on Monday.

While Souvik Banerjee, an intern at the North Bengal Dental College & Hospital (NBDCH), which is also located on the NBMCH campus, continued his hunger strike for more than 190 hours, Sandip Mondal, a second-year postgraduate trainee at the ENT department of NBMCH joined him in the fast on Monday.

Last Monday, Souvik along with Alok, a first-year postgraduate student of the psychiatry department, launched the fast-unto-death strike like the junior doctors in Calcutta.

However, in due course, Alok’s condition deteriorated and he was admitted to the ICU in NBMCH.

“He has shown notable improvement. His heart rate has stabilised at 60 beats per minute which is a significant step towards recovery. In light of his progress, doctors have allowed him to start an oral diet, marking a positive turn in his health. The medical team has been closely monitoring his vitals to make his condition stable,” said Koustav Chakrabortty, the president of the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), NBMCH branch.

“Souvik is under medical supervision as well.... An ICU bed is always ready for any emergency,” he added.

Other than in Calcutta, junior doctors are on an indefinite hunger strike at the NBMCH, the oldest and largest state-run referral hospital in north Bengal.

On Monday, some senior doctors, former students, and members of the Ramakrishna Mission’s Siliguri branch joined the protest through a 24-hour symbolic hunger strike.

“Their involvement has brought increased attention to the grievances of the students. Twelve members from the Ramakrishna Mission’s Siliguri branch have joined the protest through a symbolic hunger strike, showing their support for the junior doctors’ grievances,” said a source in NBMCH.

Dipanjan Bandyopadhyay, a professor at the medicine department, joined in the 24-hour symbolic hunger strike.

“His support, alongside the involvement of former students, underscores the seriousness of the protest and has drawn attention from faculty and external organisations,” said a faculty member in NBMCH.

The 10-point demand raised by the protesting junior doctors in the wake of the RG Kar rape and murder of the 31-year-old junior doctor on August 9 includes the resignation of the health secretary and enhanced security on hospital premises, among others.