Speaking to the media, Ghosh said, “I’m being defamed on social media. Some people are spreading false accusations against me. Students are being provoked to seek my removal. The deceased doctor is like my child. I want the guilty to be punished. Since I’m also a parent, I’m resigning (as the principal).”

On Monday, doctors continued their work stoppage, affecting both emergency and non-emergency services and causing significant disruptions to patient care. The cease-work protest led to hospitals revoking all staff leaves starting from Sunday.

In addition to the principal’s resignation, the protesting doctors are demanding the dean and other authorities’ resignation, adequate compensation for the victim’s family, and an apology from the Kolkata police. They are also calling for a speedy judicial inquiry into the crime and improved workplace security measures in all the state’s medical colleges.

The postgraduate student was found dead in the seminar hall at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on Friday. The police later arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, in connection with the crime and the government, finally bowing to the pressure of the protesters, removed hospital superintendent Sanjay Vashisth on Sunday. The dean of student affairs, Prof Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, replaced Vashisth.