The brutal killing of the woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Calcutta that had led to widespread uproar across Bengal and had also posed a question on the safety of doctors and health workers has prompted the authorities of Siliguri district hospital to constitute a team and beef up security at the hospital campus.

The hospital is the second largest state-run health establishment after the North
Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMCH) in the Darjeeling district.

According to sources, the 66-member special team comprises retired government employees, civil defence and the police.

“The team started working on Tuesday. The team will look after the entire security system at the hospital in three shifts. The officer in charge of the police camp at the hospital will lead the team,” said a source.

As per the plan, all reports related to safety and security will be sent to the hospital superintendent.

Among those included in the team were 24 people from civil defence, 28 from a non-government organisation, seven retired government employees and seven police personnel.

“The police team will comprise one officer and six constables,” the source added.

Located off Kutcheri Road in the middle of Siliguri, hundreds of patients visit the hospital daily.

“Patients are brought to the emergency section round the clock. There are
allegations that some outsiders loiter at the hospital premises, especially during evening and night hours. Their movement will be restricted in the area and the team will look into the issue,” said a health official.

On Tuesday night the hospital authorities held a meeting with the police and administrative body. The police officials also took stock of the situation in the entire hospital area and made some recommendations to the superintendent.