Mysterious death of Jhargram Hospital doctor: Found dead in hotel room

 Mystery shrouds death of a doctor attached with Jhargram Hospital, who along with other medics have been demanding justice for the brutal rape-murder trainee doctor at R G Kar.

SNS | Kolkata | November 8, 2024 : Mystery shrouds death of a doctor attached with Jhargram Hospital, who along with other medics have been demanding justice for the brutal rape-murder trainee doctor at R G Kar.

His body was found lying inside a hotel room in the town.

According to police sources, Dipro Bhattacharya was a resident anaesthetist of Jhargram Hospital and used to stay in the hotel. His body has been sent to morgue for post-mortem.

This afternoon, in a WhatsApp group of anaesthetists of the hospital, he wrote on how a section of teachers and doctors were soft targets of threat culture at R G Kar Medical College Hospital, epicenter of doctors’ protest against the incident across the country.

About one-and-a-half years ago, he was posted at R G Kar Hospital.

In the WhatsApp group, he also wrote that these doctors in order to save their jobs have joined hands with perpetrators of threat culture and corruption.

But his mobile phone went silent ever since his colleagues tried to contact him after seeing his WhatsApp messages.

Dr Utpal Bandyopadhyay, a leader of the agitating doctors’ body, said that he was protesting against the R G Kar Medical College Hospital incident.

His untimely death is shocking and unfortunate.

Agencies: According to several of his colleagues, he had long been outspoken against the "threat culture" that prevailed in various medical colleges and hospitals across the state, including R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The institution had recently made national headlines due to the horrific rape and murder of a female junior doctor there in August of this year. some senior members of RG Kar Medical College were perpetuating a “threat culture,” alleging that certain individuals supported unethical practices to secure their positions. 

What has added to the mystery surrounding his death is a final message he posted in a WhatsApp group for doctors at 12.13 pm, in which he claimed that during his time at R.G. Kar, he had consistently spoken out against the pervasive threat culture. In the message, he also stated that aome senior members of RG Kar Medical College were perpetuating a “threat culture,” alleging that certain individuals supported unethical practices to secure their positions. Those who instill fear in students and support nepotism are just as culpable as R.G. Kar’s former Principal, Sandip Ghosh, who is currently in judicial custody. 

According to sources familiar with Bhattacharya, he had made similar statements over the past year, previously accusing specific faculty members of involvement in corruption. His recent post further outlined his dissatisfaction with the workplace environment and named individuals he believed were involved in these practices.

Furthermore, the message reportedly included a strong assertion that such individuals are responsible for the depression, anxiety, and sense of hopelessness experienced by thousands of young doctors. 

His colleagues, alarmed by the post and unable to reach him, located his room and found his body after forcing the door open.

For the time being, the district police have registered a case of unnatural death and initiated an investigation. The exact cause of death will be determined once the autopsy report is available.