In the wake of a horrific crime that has shocked the nation, some Indian junior doctors continued their strike on Sunday, demanding swift justice for a colleague who was raped and murdered in Kolkata. Despite a major doctors’ association officially ending its strike, the demand for action has only intensified, with street protests erupting across the country.
The victim, a 31-year-old postgraduate student of chest medicine at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, was killed in the early hours of August 9, igniting widespread outrage. Over the past week, doctors have held protests, candlelight vigils, and refused to treat non-emergency patients. “We want justice,” chanted thousands of people in the streets of Kolkata on Sunday evening, as authorities in West Bengal struggled to contain the demonstrations against the brutal crime.
The victim’s father, who cannot be named under Indian law, expressed gratitude for the support from the medical community. “My daughter is gone, but millions of sons and daughters are now with me,” he said, referring to the doctors who have stood in solidarity. “This has given me a lot of strength, and I feel we will gain something out of it.”
Despite tougher laws following the 2012 gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old student in Delhi, women activists argue that little has changed. “This tragedy underscores the ongoing violence women face in India,” one activist remarked, highlighting the need for more stringent enforcement of protections.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) concluded its 24-hour strike on Sunday morning, but in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they emphasized the need for heightened security at hospitals. “As 60% of India’s doctors are women, it is imperative that hospital staff are protected by security protocols akin to those at airports,” the letter stated.
The R.G. Kar hospital has been the epicenter of agitation, with rallies and protests continuing despite police bans. The government has urged doctors to return to work, particularly in light of rising cases of dengue and malaria, while promising to establish a committee to recommend improved protection for healthcare professionals. However, the All India Residents and Junior Doctors’ Joint Action Forum has vowed to continue its “nationwide cease-work,” giving authorities a 72-hour deadline to conduct a thorough inquiry and make arrests.
In Modi’s home state of Gujarat, over 6,000 trainee doctors in government hospitals have remained off duty for a third day, while private institutions have resumed normal operations. The additional medical superintendent of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar, Dr. Prabhas Ranjan Tripathy, noted the increased pressure on those still working due to the reduced manpower. “There is a lot of pressure on others because manpower is reduced,” he said, reflecting the strain on the healthcare system as the crisis continues.
Source: Reuters
