Doctors across India launched a 24-hour nationwide strike on Saturday morning, protesting the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) called for the strike, demanding immediate action and justice for the victim.
The protest, which began at 6 am, saw the suspension of all medical services except for emergency care, with hospitals across the country shutting down routine outpatient services and elective surgeries.
Medical fraternity unites
The horrific incident at RG Kar Medical College has sent shockwaves through the medical community, igniting anger and a call for change. The IMA has laid down five key demands, starting with a thorough overhaul of the working and living conditions of resident doctors.
The association stressed the need to address the gruelling 36-hour duty shifts that resident doctors often endure, which they argue compromises both patient care and the doctors' well-being.
Moreover, the IMA is calling for hospitals to be declared “safe zones,” with mandatory security provisions to protect healthcare professionals.
The association has also demanded a meticulous and professional investigation into the rape-murder case, with justice delivered within a specific timeframe.
Additionally, the IMA stressed the importance of identifying and punishing those involved in the vandalism of the hospital premises, a disturbing incident that followed the crime. They also seek dignified compensation for the victim’s family, in recognition of the unimaginable cruelty they have endured.
Ripple effect
The strike has significantly disrupted medical services nationwide, as doctors and healthcare workers rally behind the cause. In major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, hospitals have been eerily quiet, with outpatient departments shut and elective surgeries postponed.
Casualty and emergency services, however, remain operational, ensuring that urgent cases are still attended to.
Friday saw multiple protests across the country, with doctors from various cities gathering outside hospitals and central government offices.
In Delhi, a large protest march took place outside Nirman Bhavan, the health ministry’s headquarters. The collective voice of the medical fraternity is clear: they will not stand down until their demands are met and justice is served.
Political tensions escalate
The tragic incident has also triggered a political storm in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest march in Kolkata, demanding the death penalty for the accused and urging the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to expedite its probe.
Banerjee, who asserted that the Kolkata Police had already completed 90 per cent of the investigation, set a deadline for the CBI to conclude its work by Sunday, August 18.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its criticism of Banerjee’s administration, accusing her of failing to fulfil her constitutional duties.
The BJP alleges that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is attempting to destroy evidence by sending a mob to vandalise RG Kar Hospital, an accusation that has only fueled the political fire.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar announced that the party would hold a sit-in demonstration near RG Kar Medical College, condemning the state’s law and order situation.
Governor’s critique
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has also weighed in on the controversy, describing RG Kar Hospital as a “school of scandals.” Bose accused Chief Minister Banerjee of displaying a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” persona, further inflaming the already volatile situation.
He warned that the horrific rape and murder are just the “tip of the iceberg,” suggesting that there may be deeper issues within the state-run hospital.
CBI probe intensifies
As the political drama unfolds, the CBI continues its investigation into the trainee doctor’s murder. On Friday, the CBI questioned RG Kar Hospital’s former principal, Sandip Ghosh, along with four trainee doctors.
The agency also interviewed three batchmates of the victim who were on duty the night of the incident. Meanwhile, Ghosh has approached the High Court, seeking protection, citing threats to his life.
In a parallel development, Kolkata Police have arrested 25 individuals in connection with the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital.
The police, who used social media inputs to identify the suspects, continued their search for others involved in the incident.
The BJP and doctors allege that the vandalism was an orchestrated attempt to destroy crucial evidence related to the rape-murder case.
NCW inquiry reveals lapses
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has conducted an inquiry into the incident, uncovering significant lapses in both the police investigation and the hospital’s security infrastructure.
The 31-year-old second-year postgraduate student was found raped and murdered inside the hospital’s seminar hall on August 9.
A civic volunteer associated with the police has been arrested in connection with the crime.
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