Kolkata rape-murder case HIGHLIGHTS: Mamata herself a woman, understands pain of woman, says Akhilesh Yadav

CBI released Sandeep Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College, after about 13 hours. He was interrogated for 15 hours yesterday. Sources say that he may be summoned again.

"I don't want to be the next victim", read placards carried by several women medics who were part of a march here on Saturday to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata last week. Hundreds of medics, including doctors and resident doctors, wearing stethoscopes over their white aprons, started their march from the Lady Hardinge Medical College on the sixth day of their agitation over the incident and to press for their demands such as a central law to check violence against healthcare personnel.

"The experts from the CBI's CFSL team have arrived in Kolkata to conduct a psychological test on the arrested accused, Sanjay Roy, in order to understand his mental state," CBI sources said.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said the vandalism at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was an attempt to "cover up the truth", and called for ensuring justice to the woman trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at the health facility last week.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday (August 17) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his intervention in the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The IMA also put forth some solutions and demands to the Prime Minister and said that his taking note of the situation will “give confidence to not only women doctors but also to every woman in workplace”. The letter to PM Modi was written by IMA national president Dr RV Asokan and Honorary Secretary General Dr Anilkumar J Nayak.

Doctors of private hospitals in Gurugram went on a strike on Saturday in protest against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's Medical College and Hospital. At the call of the Indian Medical Association-Gurugram, doctors suspended OPD and operation theatre services, an IMA official said.

Healthcare services in Gujarat were affected as doctors from government and private hospitals took to the streets on Saturday amid the 24-hour nationwide protest over the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at a Kolkata medical college. Doctors stayed away from the outpatient departments (OPDs) and did not conduct elective surgeries in several hospitals across the state as part of a strike call given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Gujarat Junior Doctors' Association.

Healthcare services in Mizoram were severely hit as doctors in the state joined the nationwide protest demanding justice for the alleged rape and murder of a medic in Kolkata, an official said. Services at the out-patient department (OPD) and non-essential units have been suspended in all the state-run hospitals, private facilities and church-run medical establishments, Indian Medical Association Mizoram state branch president Dr John Zohmingthanga said.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday condemned the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, while appealing to protesting medics to return to work for the sake of the patients. Healthcare services were affected in Jharkhand during the day, as doctors joined the Indian Medical Association’s nationwide call for the withdrawal of non-emergency services for 24 hours from 6 am on Saturday.

Doctors staged a protest at Delhi’s Lady Hardinge Medical College against the rape-murder incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

More than 4,500 doctors in Chhattisgarh on Saturday went on a 24-hour strike as part of the nationwide protest against the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. The protest which started at 6 am affected medical services except the emergency ones in major hospitals across the state.

Doctors running private clinics and nursing homes associated with the Indian Medical Association of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday abandoned work in a protest against the alleged rape and murder of a female doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The absolute strike threw health care services across districts of UP out of gear and led to the crowding of patients at government hospitals.

BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday urged political parties to "rise above party politics" on the issue of rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. "The whole country is worried and angry over the atrocity of rape-murder of a lady doctor in Bengal, yet the TMC government is trying to give it a religious and political colour in its defence, while the opposition is no less in this matter.

"Mamata Banerjee herself is a woman and understands the pain of a woman. She has taken action as per demand. The government has also decided to get the matter investigated by CBI or any other institution. But along with this, the people of the Bharatiya Janata Party should not do politics... BJP should not take political advantage from the incidents," Akhilesh Yadav said.

On the rape and murder of a woman resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, BJP MP Sambit Patra said, "... I stand in solidarity with my doctor community and friends... The barbarism that happened in Bengal was being covered up by the CM herself... Why have 40-50 doctors been transferred in a hurry? What is the CM trying to hide?... After holding the portfolio of Chief Minister, Health Minister, and also Home Minister, she dared to come out holding placards and holding a protest. Who is she seeking justice and protection from?... Who did Sandip Ghosh (former Principal of RG Kar) work for?... The victim's parents were told she had committed suicide... Police are looking out for people sending notices and threatening people for posting about the case on social media... I thank the lawyers representing the case at the Calcutta High Court. Pertinent questions have been taken up by those lawyers. I have seen the gesture of the Justice. They were all frustrated and devastated and they pulled up the WB government. They have upheld the justice of the country..."

In the aftermath of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, ABVP workers on Saturday held a protest against Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in Delhi. 

Indian Medical Association National President Dr Asokan said, "... Now its for the government to respond. They will have the political will to respond now. Because what we have asked for is not something beyond them. We are asking for a very fundamental right, the right to life... We will be writing to the PM. The time is ripe for his intervention... Certainly, that (PM Modi mentioning women's safety in his August 15 speech) is one aspect that shows that he is concerned. It will be very appropriate to write to the prime minister. IMA will be doing that..."

On RG Kar rape-murder incident, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said, "The incident is very sad. The West Bengal government should take action...Doctors are protesting against the incident...The state government has failed..."

On RG Kar rape-murder incident, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said, "The incident is very sad. The West Bengal government should take action...Doctors are protesting against the incident...The state government has failed..."

On Kolkata tragedy, RJD supremo Lalu Yadav said, "Justice should be served to the doctors who are on a strike. What happened with the trainee doctor there was barbaric."

Doctors practising independently and in various private hospitals in Goa struck work from 6 am on Saturday to join the nationwide protest against the rape and murder of their colleague in Kolkata.

 RG Kar's former principal Sandip Ghosh reaches CBI office. 

In the aftermath of the Kolkata tragedy, AIIMS-Patna Executive Director and CEO doctor Gopal Krushna Pal informed of additional security measures for women staff. He said, that it has been decided to deploy more female security guards and install an additional 150 CCTV cameras on the campus, among other measures.

A two-member inquiry committee constituted by the National Commission for Women (NCW) investigated the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and submitted its preliminary findings yesterday, uncovering lapses in security, infrastructure, and investigation.

On doctors' nationwide strike against Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case, a relative of a patient at Sion Hospital said, "Our patient is in ICU. The services are proper. We don't have any problem. But I think that what happened in Kolkata is wrong. Those who have done wrong should be punished... Doctors are serving the people selflessly. The government and the people should support them... The services (at the hospital) are running smoothly."

Amid the growing protests across the country, several private hospitals also joined in a 48-hour strike today, along with government hospitals. They have also called on disruption of the OPD services.