Junior doctors of Bengal demanding "justice for Abhaya" --- the lady doctor who was on August 9 raped and murdered inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital --- and better security in Government hospitals resumed cease work from Tuesday alleging the promises made earlier by the State in support of their demands had not been fulfilled.

The second phase of cease work begins barely within a fortnight of the first phase when the agitating doctors called off their strike following talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who reportedly assured them of all cooperation that included creating right kind of working environment inside the hospitals.

The resumption of cease work comes after attacks over the past one week on junior doctors in three State-run medical colleges.

"We were hopeful that after our talks with the Chief Minister and following that the Chief Secretary concrete measures would be taken to ensure safety and security of the doctors inside the hospitals … but while the Government is claiming in the Supreme Court that major steps have been taken things seem to be running in a snail's pace … our colleague in RG Kar Medical College was raped and murdered due to this slack security system … despite such a big incident and words given by the Government there has been three to four attacks at Sagor Dutta Medical College, CNM Medical College, Rampurhat Medical College and today at Burdwan Medical College … whereas the Government is indifferent ... so we had no other way but to return to the cease work," said Dr Kinjal Nanda one of the leaders of the Joint Platform of Junior Doctors.

Doctor Debashis Haldar said one of the leaders of the movement also said how "we were left with no option but to cease work as despite assurances given by the Chief Minister we are being attacked whereas the administration is sitting idle … if this continues then how far away is a second RG Kar like incident." When asked about the removal of senior officers including the former Kolkata Police Commissioner and two Directors of Health following talks with the Chief Minister, Dr Aniket said that "those were not the entire list of demands … they were only some preliminary steps that we had asked for."

He also pointed out at how senior politicians and MLAs like Humayun Kabir of Murshiadabad were publicly threatening the doctors with dire consequences everyday should they not stop their agitation, saying "we have come to treat and serve people … we have come to learn as junior doctors and not to die at the hands of hoodlums."

A list of ten demands presented by the doctors read:

1. Abhaya's demand for justice should be addressed without delay, avoiding any extended judicial proceedings, The Health Ministry needs to be held accountable for administrative failures and corruption, and should promptly remove the Health Secretary from their role.

3. A state-wide centralised referral system must be swiftly introduced in all hospitals and medical institutions.

4. Each medical college and hospital should implement a digital system to monitor bed vacancies.

5. Task forces, with elected junior doctor representatives, must be established in all hospitals and medical colleges to oversee the installation of CCTVs, on-call rooms, and bathroom facilities.

6. Police presence in hospitals should be strengthened by hiring permanent male and female officers, rather than relying on civic volunteers.

7. Immediate action is needed to fill all vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers in hospitals.

8. Investigative committees must be set up in each medical college to probe individuals involved in threat activities, with a state-level inquiry committee also formed.

9. Student council elections must be conducted in all medical colleges without delay, with recognition of RDAs and elected student and junior doctor representation in decision-making bodies.

10. Immediate investigation is required into the widespread corruption and disorder within the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) and the West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB).

While there was no immediate response from the Chief Minister senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that he hoped "good sense will prevail and the doctors will return to work as they also do not want people to die … by resuming their cease work they will only harm the common people and none else."

Meanwhile, the joint forum of doctors have called for a Mahamichil or a Grand rally on Mahalaya day --- or the day when Devi Paksha sets in according to the Hindu calendar --- in demand for Justice for Abhaya or the RGKMCH victim.