Doctors across India have staged a national strike in response to the rape and murder of a female colleague in Kolkata, West Bengal.
The strike, involving over a million doctors, saw hospitals and clinics across the country turning away non-emergency patients.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) condemned the “barbaric” crime and criticized the lack of safe spaces for women, calling for widespread support in their fight for justice.
The IMA announced that emergency and casualty services would continue during the strike, which ended at 06:00 local time on Sunday (00:30 GMT).
The association’s president, R. V. Asokan, highlighted the severity of the incident, noting that if such a crime can occur in a medical college, “everywhere doctors are unsafe.”
Protests have intensified following the vandalism of the hospital where the incident occurred. The IMA has demanded stronger laws to protect medical staff, enhanced security at hospitals, safe spaces for rest, and a thorough investigation into the crime and subsequent vandalism.
They also seek compensation for the victim’s family.
The 31-year-old trainee doctor’s body, found with extensive injuries in a seminar hall at R G Kar Medical College, has shocked the nation.
A volunteer at the hospital has been arrested, and the case has been transferred to India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) due to criticism over the slow progress.
The rape and murder have ignited further protests across India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for severe punishment for such “monstrous behavior.”
The case has also sparked political tensions in West Bengal, with the BJP accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) of orchestrating the attack. The TMC has denied these allegations, blaming “political outsiders” for inciting violence.
In response to the violence, tens of thousands of women participated in the Reclaim the Night march in West Bengal, demanding freedom from fear.
While the protests were mostly peaceful, clashes occurred between police and some protesters who ransacked the RG Kar Hospital. At least 25 people have been arrested in connection with these incidents.
Protests have spread to other cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune, with demonstrators expressing renewed hope for change. “It feels like hope is being reignited,” said Sumita Datta, a marcher in Kolkata.
Source-BBC
