It’s been a week and the family of the junior doctor, who was raped and killed, at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital continue to wait for justice. The parents are joined by several doctors across the country, people and many on social media for stringent punishment for those involved in the heinous crime.
The trainee doctor who was on night duty at the state-run RG Kar hospital was brutally raped and murdered when she had gone to rest at the seminar hall finishing her night rounds. Her semi-naked body was found on Friday (August 9) morning and bore severe injuries, blood gushing out of her eyes and mouth, and her legs were 90 degrees apart.
Clamouring call for speedy justice
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide withdrawal of services on Saturday, August 17 for 24 hours in protest against the rape and murder of the doctor in Kolkata.
In a statement, IMA said, “After the brutal crime in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of Independence Day, the Indian Medical Association declares nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine from 6 am on Saturday August 17 to 6 am Sunday August 18, for 24 hours.”
“All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all sectors where modern medicine doctors are providing service. IMA requires the sympathy of the nation with the just cause of its doctors,” the statement further stated.
‘Mamata murdering the truth’: BJP
“There has been a breakdown of the state machinery,” BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia remarked. “The uniform is supposed to protect the citizens of the state. When there are pressures on the uniform and police to act contrary to the spirit of the constitution, to protect and shield certain criminals who have affiliation with the political party and especially if that political party is the party in power we see such incidents happening. There are constitutional checks and balances like the High Court and Supreme Court… Mamata Banerjee needs to realise that you can’t murder the truth,” he further said.
Calcutta HC blasts Bengal govt
On Friday, the Calcutta High Court addressed the vandalism at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which occurred on the night of August 14 during a protest over the rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor. The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court noted that the court had taken up the matter in response to emails received about the incident, as reported by Live Law.
“This is an absolute failure of state machinery. There was a police force present (at the spot). They couldn’t protect their own men? Sorry state of affairs. How will these doctors work fearlessly?” the Chief Justice criticised the West Bengal government, adding, “You pass section 144 of the CrPC orders for any reason. When so much commotion is going on, you should have cordoned the area,” he added.
“7,000 people can’t come walking,” he said.
Mamata Banerjee blames ‘Bam, Ram’ for RG Kar vandalism
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused outsiders and opposition parties of orchestrating the vandalism at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, was linked to protests over the rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor.
She attributed the violence to a coalition of the Left and BJP, referring to them as ‘bam’ (Left) and ‘Ram’ (BJP). “Bam (Left) and Ram (BJP) want to create unrest in Bengal and they both have come together to do this,” she said.
Claims of unrelated agitators
Banerjee asserted that those responsible for the vandalism were not associated with the student protests at RG Kar Medical College. “The people who vandalised RG Kar Hospital yesterday and created this ruckus are not connected to the student movement of RG Kar Medical College. They are outsiders,” she claimed.
Centre asks hospitals to file case in 6 hours
In response to the nationwide outrage following the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, the Centre has mandated that all healthcare institutions file a police report within six hours if violence against doctors occurs.
The Ministry of Health issued a memo stating that the responsibility to file the FIR rests solely with the head of each institution.
This directive is part of a broader effort to address the widespread protests by doctors across the country, who are calling for legislation to protect healthcare professionals from violence. The move comes in the wake of the tragic murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
With inputs from agencies.
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Kolkata rape-murder: IMA calls for 24-hour nationwide tomorrow
