Doctors from various hospitals across Delhi have united in a joint protest today, demanding swift justice for the victim of the recent rape and murder case in Kolkata. The case has sparked outrage, not just in Kolkata but nationwide, with medical professionals calling for stricter laws to prevent such heinous crimes in the future.Â
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has taken over the investigation of the case, has summoned eight doctors and other medical staff from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata for questioning. The probe is ongoing, with authorities determined to uncover the full extent of the events leading to the tragic incident.
In a related development, the Kolkata Police have arrested ten individuals and detained three others in connection with the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The vandalism occurred during a nationwide 'Reclaim the Night' protest, where a group of 40 to 50 people, under the guise of demonstrating, forcibly entered the hospital premises late Wednesday night and caused significant property damage.
The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) has thrown its full support behind the protest, announcing a 24-hour strike starting on Saturday. The strike is a response to what many in the medical community see as a lack of meaningful action in the case, as well as a call to address the broader issue of violence against healthcare professionals.
In addition to the strike, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide 24-hour withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine, beginning at 6 am on Saturday. This move is in protest against the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital and is intended to send a strong message about the need for better protection and respect for medical institutions and their staff.
The protest in Delhi is part of a broader wave of demonstrations across the country. In Kolkata, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) has called for a 12-hour strike across West Bengal in response to the vandalism. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also announced that the Trinamool Congress will hold a rally on August 17, seeking justice for the victim.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Mahila Morcha will hold a silent candlelight march in all district headquarters of West Bengal today, expressing solidarity with the victim and calling for justice. The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association has joined the protest, declaring a day-long cease-work in protest against the vandalism at the hospital.
In Mumbai, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) is staging a protest at Azad Maidan against the vandalism at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital, further highlighting the widespread anger and concern within the medical community.
The incident has also led to political tensions, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of being involved in the vandalism at the hospital. He has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the CBI, requesting the deployment of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) to ensure security at the hospital.
The victim, a 32-year-old trainee doctor, was found semi-naked in the seminar hall of the government-run hospital on August 9. The discovery of her body has shocked the nation, with calls for justice growing louder by the day. A civic volunteer associated with the Kolkata Police, Sanjay Roy, has been arrested in connection with the case, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation.
As the protests continue, the medical community, along with the general public, is united in its demand for justice and the implementation of stronger laws to protect individuals, especially women, from such brutal crimes. The outcome of these protests and the subsequent actions by the authorities will be closely watched in the coming days.
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