Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: As calls for justice for the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at a hospital in Kolkata grow, the protests led by the medical fraternity have taken the shape of a movement across the country. Doctors are taking to the streets, holding candle marches demanding the strictest punishment for the accused and a safe workplace for themselves. Junior Doctor's Association (JDA) at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi have demanded capital punishment for the accused in the case while also raising concerns over their own safety at the hospital.
Doctors at RIMS, Ranchi speak up on brutal rape-murder case
JDA President Dr Ankit Kumar and Vice President Dr Abhishek on Sunday (August 18) detailed the movement they led for the justice for their colleague in the medical fraternity and talked about their demands they have from the Centre as well as the college administration.
The President of the JDA described their protests as a “pen down movement” and said that they garnered support from the locals. He also said that they were backed by IMA Jharkhand, JHASA, IMA Junior Doctor's Network.
“We have called our movement as “pen down” and took out the candle march on August 11 in solidarity with the doctor. People were in our support but we realised this was not sufficient. Mamata Banerjee government would not let the culprits come to the clutches of law easily. We then discussed further plan of action to make it a wider movement to create awareness among people,” Dr Ankit said.
He informed that the JDA held a meeting on August 12 and decided to expand the movement further starting August 13 by suspending the OPD services and Elective OTs and admissions. “We increased the number of doctors in the Emergency services to ensure that the critical patients do not face any problems,” he said.
The Vice President of JDA said that the association continued its movement on the following day, however, there was no response from the authorities. “On August 14 evening, a meeting was held and a rally was carried out by over 1,000 doctors and nurses of the hospital. We had burnt the effigy of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, RK Kar Medical College’s administration,” Dr Abhishek said.
He stated that there was no movement held on August 15 in the honour of Independence Day.
JDA on mob attack in RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata
Secretary of the association, Dr Om said that messages were received from protesting doctors on their social media groups that there was a mob attack on the doctors. “We received late night messages from groups that said “We are under attack”. A mob of hundreds, who were suspected to be from the TMC, attacked the hospital and attempted to tamper with the evidence just after the CBI took charge of the case,” he said.
“They vandalised the hospital. They were reportedly targeting the seminar room where the crime took place. Our colleagues there had to flee to save their lives,” Dr Om claimed.
The doctors expressed anguish that the doctors had to fight for their rights on the day the country was celebrating Independence Day.
Doctors continue their ‘pen down’ movement
Women’s wing Vice President Dr Surabhi Prerna said that the JDA’s movement was continued on August 16 after the mob attack in Kolkata, which received response from the local public who also paid tributes to ‘Abhaya’ (a name given to the victim on lines of Nirbhaya, a victim of 2012 gang-rape in Delhi).
“On August 16, people also paid tributes to Dr Abhaya. We lit candles in her honour. On August 17, we took part in the IMA’s nationwide strike and suspended OPDs and OTs. We carried out a rally yesterday demanding justice. We are still waiting for justice for the victim,” she said.
What are doctors’ demands?
Dr Ankita Raj, Women Welfare Wing, said that the doctors have demands from authorities at all levels, ranging from college administration to the state and central governments.
Demands from RIMS administration
“We demanded RIMS administration to install 24*7 CCTV cameras on the campus for our safety. The non-functional guards must be replaced by active guards. Drinking water is also not provided to the doctors in the hospital, we had also put forward a demand for its provision,” Dr Ankita said.
She mentioned the 36-hour-long shifts done by the doctors and sought separate restrooms for the male and female doctors with the basic sanitary facilities and canteen to ensure that they do not have to walk out of the campus late at night.
“We have put forward these demands to make sure that such incidents do not occur to us tomorrow. There is also a stray dog problem in the premises which leads to dog bite issues. The outsiders have been coming towards the hostel areas lately. They often pass lewd remarks on doctors making them uncomfortable,” Dr Ankita informed.
She said that the RIMS administration has accepted the demands, however, added that it would take around four months to implement them on the ground. The doctors have urged them to fast track the process.
Demands from Central and state governments
Dr Ankita demanded the Central Protection Act from the Centre calling it the “need of the hour”.
“Mamata Banerjee should resign along with other administrative officials responsible for the protection of doctors and women. Doctors must be given protection in the Emergency services which extend 24*7,” she said.
The doctors demanded capital punishment for the accused in the Kolkata rape-murder case and urged the governments at all levels to ensure safety of doctors at their workplace so that “they could only focus on saving lives and not themselves”.
Kolkata doctor rape-murder case
It should be noted that a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at the hospital on August 9. Later, the semi-naked body of the 32-year-old woman was found in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the crime the next day.
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