Protests spread over Indian doctor's rape and murder
On the 18th of August, reports emerged that a number of junior doctors in India continued to abstain from work on Sunday, demanding swift and decisive justice for a fellow doctor who was brutally raped and murdered. This occurred despite the conclusion of a strike that had been initiated by a major doctors' association. Concurrently, various groups organised street protests, demonstrating their outrage at the crime.
In the past week, medical professionals across India have engaged in protests, candlelight vigils, and have abstained from treating non-emergency patients. This was in response to the heinous murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate student specialising in chest medicine. The crime took place in the early hours of the 9th of August in Kolkata, a major city in the eastern part of the country.
In a show of solidarity with the medical community, thousands of individuals took to the streets of Kolkata on Sunday evening. They marched, chanting demands for justice, while authorities in the state of West Bengal struggled to manage the growing demonstrations against the brutal crime. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, particularly among women's rights activists. They argue that this tragedy, which occurred at the historic R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, underscores the persistent dangers faced by women in India, despite the implementation of stricter laws following the notorious gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a bus in Delhi in 2012.
The victim's father, whose identity is protected under Indian law, expressed his sorrow and gratitude to the press on Saturday evening. He remarked, "My daughter is gone, but millions of sons and daughters are now with me," referring to the widespread support from the protesting doctors. "This has given me a lot of strength, and I feel we will gain something out of it. "
In the wake of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape, India introduced significant reforms to its criminal justice system, including harsher penalties for offenders. However, many campaigners believe that these measures have not been sufficient to curb violence against women. Dr. Kanika Sahani, one of the protesters in New Delhi, voiced her concerns during the ongoing demonstrations.
A police volunteer, who had been assigned to assist police personnel and their families with hospital admissions, has been arrested and charged with the crime. His mother, speaking to Reuters, expressed her deep remorse but also pledged to support her son. She lamented, "I should not have given birth to my son... it's a huge mistake," speaking from her home.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), which had called for a 24-hour strike that ended at 6 a.m. on Sunday, addressed a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The letter highlighted that approximately 60% of India's doctors are women, urging the Prime Minister to intervene and ensure that hospital staff are protected by security measures comparable to those at airports.
The R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital has been the epicentre of protests and rallies for over a week. In response, the police imposed a ban on gatherings of five or more people around the hospital for a week, starting Sunday. However, the protesters defied this order later in the day before eventually dispersing.
The government has called on doctors to resume their duties, particularly given the increasing number of dengue and malaria cases, while it sets up a committee to propose measures to enhance the protection of healthcare professionals. According to IMA officials, most doctors have returned to their regular duties. Dr. Madan Mohan Paliwal, the head of the IMA in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, stated, "The doctors are back to their routine. The next course of action will be decided if the government does not take any strict steps to protect doctors... and this time we could stop emergency services too."
However, the All India Residents and Junior Doctors' Joint Action Forum announced on Saturday that it would continue its "nationwide cease-work" campaign, giving the authorities a 72-hour deadline to conduct a thorough investigation and make necessary arrests.
In Indian Prime Minister Modi's home state, more than 6,000 trainee doctors working in government hospitals continued to abstain from non-emergency medical services on Sunday, marking the third consecutive day of their protest. However, private institutions in the state have resumed normal operations.
Dr. Prabhas Ranjan Tripathy, the additional medical superintendent of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar, another eastern city, reported that junior doctors and interns had not yet resumed their duties. "There is a lot of pressure on others because manpower is reduced," he said, highlighting the strain on the healthcare system due to the ongoing protests.
This tragic event has once again brought the issue of women's safety in India to the forefront, reigniting debates about the effectiveness of existing laws and the need for more comprehensive measures to protect women from violence. The protests and strikes by the medical community, alongside the public demonstrations, reflect a collective demand for justice and a safer environment for all.
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