The Jalpaiguri branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has recommended the suspension of Sushanta Roy, a veteran eye specialist who is the secretary of the branch, along with his doctor son and another doctor.

There are allegations that all three of them were present at the RG Kar Medical
College & Hospital (RGKMCH) in Calcutta after the gruesome rape and murder of a doctor on August 9.

The move follows a decision made by the Bengal branch of the IMA that suspended Ghosh a couple of days back.

On Wednesday, some office bearers and members of the IMA in Jalpaiguri held a meeting which continued till late night.

“At the meeting, it has been decided that we will recommend the dissolution of the executive committee of the Jalpaiguri branch of IMA, along with the suspension of Sushanta Roy, (his son) Soutrik Roy, who is a joint secretary of the committee, and Avik Dey, a vice-president of the branch,” said Pantha Dasgupta, a senior doctor and a member of IMA.

Soutrik is Sushanta’s son. Avik is a former PGT at the SSKM hospital in Calcutta. All three of them were allegedly present in RG Kar, even though none of them were associated with the health institution where the crime took place.

“We will send our recommendation to the IMA headquarters to take appropriate steps,” Dasgupta added.

Avik, an ex-student of North Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMCH), was in the line of fire last week. Protesters at his alma mater had alleged his role in malpractices during exams at NBMCH.

“It is surprising that Avik, who is not based in Jalpaiguri, was an office bearer of IMA in Jalpaiguri. This reconfirms the highhandedness of some doctors whose names figured in the RG Kar case,” said a senior doctor of the town.

He said that the IMA branch was forced to act as questions were raised over the branch’s silence after the RG Kar brutality.

“Unlike other places, no activity was taken up by the IMA in Jalpaiguri after the August 9 incident. At the meeting (on Wednesday night), it was also decided that some activities would be taken up in due course,” he said.