The inhuman and revolting crimes of murder and rape of a doctor in eastern India has caused an uproar. Doctors and
medical representatives throughout the country have stood in allegiance with the victim following the rape and murder of
a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. Junior doctors at Civil Hospital have expressed the sense of
injustice and fear through peaceful protest.
On the other hand, the Resident Doctors Association, Government Medical College in Amritsar, Punjab made a public
announcement of the suspension of all non-essential and elective hospital services, including Out Patient Departments,
Operating Theaters and wards, beginning on August 16 and continuing until further notice.
Similar protests have been seen throughout the country. It is a moment of complete solidarity and people from all walks of
life, especially those working in the medical community have shown their fierce stance on the subject.
In Kerala, junior doctors and post doctoral students have employed non violent protest to expediate the action and in turn
justice that needs to be taken for a life lost in unfortunate vain.
Similar protests are being held in Delhi at RML College and Lady Hardinge Medical College by students and junior
doctors.
“I urge all doctors and citizens to come to Nirman Bhawan in large numbers so that we can present our concerns to the
government and seek justice for our colleague from Bengal, who fell victim to this barbaric and gruesome act. We also
want to show our solidarity with our protesting colleagues in Bengal, assuring them that doctors nationwide stand with
them. We demand the implementation of a Central Protection Act from the government. Our protest will continue until we
receive a commitment from the government for concrete actions,” Dr. Akash from RML College said.
On Thursday, doctors from Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) protested on the streets by staging a rasta roko
and participating in demonstrations that had spread across various government hospitals. The NIMS Resident Doctors
Association (RDA), which had earlier restricted their protest to wearing black badges, declared a duty boycott starting
Friday. They joined their peers from Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital, and Niloufer Hospital in this collective
action.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a 24-hour nationwide suspension of non-emergency services
starting from 6 am on August 17. This protest is in response to the alleged rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at
R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, along with the subsequent vandalism at the facility. Essential services
and emergency care will continue, and casualty wards will remain operational, according to a statement released late
Thursday night.
During this period, outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries will be halted. The IMA specified that this
suspension will impact all sectors where modern medicine practitioners are active.
The IMA’s statement noted: “In light of the brutal crime at R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, and the violence against
protesting students on the eve of Independence Day (Wednesday night), the Indian Medical Association announces a
nationwide withdrawal of services by modern medicine doctors from 6 am on Saturday, August 17, 2024, to 6 am on
Sunday, August 18, 2024.”
The country stands united in quest for justice against the heinous Kolkata doctor murder-rape case with protests in all major cities
