Junior doctors, who had been on a hunger strike for 16 days to protest the alleged rape and murder of a fellow doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, ended their fast on Monday after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The doctors, who have also been pushing for improvements in working conditions and infrastructure in the state's healthcare system, announced the withdrawal of their earlier-called general medical strike.

Despite ending the hunger strike, the doctors made it clear that their protest would continue through other avenues. The decision came after a two-hour discussion with the Chief Minister, which was streamed live from Nabanna, the state’s secretariat.

During the meeting, Mamata Banerjee urged the doctors to call off their hunger strike, explaining that many of their concerns had been addressed. However, she refused their demand for the removal of the state’s Health Secretary. "At RG Kar Medical College, some junior doctors and students were suspended without following the correct protocols. This is not acceptable. Who authorized these suspensions without consulting the state government? It creates a culture of intimidation," Banerjee remarked.

On the demand for the Health Secretary’s removal, Banerjee explained, "You cannot accuse someone without solid proof. First, evidence must be presented before calling someone an accused." In response, one of the protesting doctors argued, "As per the law, a person can be called an accused until proven guilty."

Banerjee assured the doctors that their demands were being taken into consideration and urged them to encourage their colleagues to end the strike and return to work.

The junior doctors had initially begun their 'cease-work' protest on August 9, following the alleged rape and murder of their colleague at the hospital. The movement escalated to a hunger strike on October 5 after nearly 50 days of intermittent 'cease-work' protests.