The Catch Up: 21 August

Aug 21, 2024

Dr. Sandip Ghosh, a former principal entangled in a serious crime investigation, shares insights on the ongoing CBI inquiry into the rape and murder of a young doctor at a hospital. He discusses an intense six-day questioning process and the possibility of a polygraph test due to inconsistencies in his statements. The podcast also highlights the impact of junior doctors' strikes on healthcare services in West Bengal, and the growing political tensions surrounding protests against alleged sexual assaults in Maharashtra.

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Current Events Overview: Crime, Protests, and International Relations

00:00 • 4min

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 21st of August and here are the headlines.

CBI officers continued to question of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh regarding the rape and murder of a young doctor on night shift on hospital premises for the sixth consecutive day today. As per the news agency PTI, Ghosh may also be subjected to a polygraph test. An official said that they want to further verify Ghosh’s answers, as there have been discrepancies in some of the replies. Meanwhile, healthcare services remain affected at state-run hospitals in West Bengal, as junior doctors continued their strike for the 13th consecutive day. Senior doctors were asked to report to duty in place of junior medics at several hospitals.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) called for a “Maharashtra bandh” on August 24 to protest against the alleged sexual assault on two young girls at a school in Badlapur. Vijay Wadettiwar, leader of opposition in the state assembly said that MVA allies – Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) headed by Sharad Pawar – took the decision after a meeting in Mumbai. Meanwhile, a local court extended till August 26 the police custody of the man arrested for allegedly sexually abusing two girls at a school in Badlapur.

Amid a nationwide strike called by Dalit and Adivasi groups against the Supreme Court’s decision to permit the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), police lathicharged protesters in Bihar’s Patna, news agency ANI. As many as twenty one organisations have called for Bharat Bandh against the SC order. Left parties, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bahujan Samajwadi Party have extended support to the nationwide bandh. While protests were seen across cities in Bihar, the Bandh saw mixed responses in Rajasthan and Jharkhand. In Odisha, road and rail services were partially affected due to the protests, news agency PTI reported.

Ahead of the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Ukraine, Narendra Modi today said that India hoped for an early return of peace and stability in the region as a “friend and partner”. Modi is headed to Poland today, and then to Ukraine on August 23. This also marks the first-ever visit by an Indian PM to Poland in 45 years. In his departure statment, Modi expressed confidence that “the visit will serve as a natural continuation of extensive contacts with the two countries and help create the foundation for stronger and more vibrant relations in the years ahead”.

A bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims overturned in central Iran, killing 28 passengers and injuring another 23 people, state media reported today.The accident took place late on Tuesday in the central Iranian province of Yazd and was caused by a technical defect in the bus braking system, according to preliminary investigations made by the Iranian traffic police. Pakistan’s consular services in Iran have been invited to Yazd province to follow up on the accident, the official added.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.