After weeks of turbulence, junior doctors in Kolkata called off their sit-in protest and strike, which had crippled medical services throughout the state. Junior physicians, who launched their strike on August 9 in response to the rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College, marched from Swasthya Bhawan to the CGO Complex on Friday afternoon. The strike hampered services at hospitals in and around Kolkata, was partially called off, with junior doctors deciding to resume emergency services after the protest.

A broad group of demonstrators joined the doctors, including students, artists, IT professionals, and civil society activists. "Emergency services will be the first focus starting this coming Saturday," said a protesting junior doctor to the media during the march. The strike ended formally with the Friday march, despite a partial lifting on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a unique march criticizing the RG Kar dispute gained traction throughout the city. A different event, the 42-kilometre relay torch rally, began at Highland Park and ended at Shyambazar about midnight. The demonstration drew notable figures, such as theatre performer Sourabh Palodhi and actresses Ushasi Chakraborty and Rupa Bhattacharya. The march, known as the "Rimjhim march," has attracted attention for its symbolism, which aims to preserve the spirit of justice left over from the August 14 call to women to reclaim the streets of the city.

However, the prominent display of posters featuring Kaltan Dasgupta, a leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India recently released on bail following an alleged audio frameup, sparked controversy during the civil society march. Some demonstrators said that using his image provoked some friction. Rimjhim, a member of the 'Women Seize the Night, Change the Day' campaign, expressed concerns about the march's diluted objective, saying, "This is a citizens' march, and we don't want any known faces from those involved in parliamentary politics to be here."

Doctors have also expressed concern about the quality of hospital medications, which has reportedly declined over the last six months. According to hospital sources, complaints about useless medications and severe responses have piled up. A senior doctor conveyed their frustration to Principal Sandip Ghosh, emphasizing the need to address this issue. Despite repeated warnings and complaints, the problem persists, revealing a larger systemic issue in the state's healthcare system.

The rallies, which have already lasted more than a month, have pushed the city's problems to the forefront, demanding justice for the victim, improvements in healthcare, and addressing political controversies along the way.