Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Cease work continues for 4th day, hospital services hit across Bengal
Times of India | 12 August 2024
The protesters are demanding a magisterial inquiry into the rape and murder of a woman doctor and have ceased even emergency duties as of Monday morning. NEW DELHI: The ongoing strike by junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees in West Bengal has disrupted hospital services across the state for the fourth day in a row.
The protesters are demanding a magisterial inquiry into the rape and murder of a woman doctor and have ceased even emergency duties as of Monday morning.
"We want an impartial investigation into the murder of our colleague, either by the CBI or a sitting magistrate.We are dissatisfied with the current police investigation and will continue our protest until justice is served and the state ensures foolproof security for all doctors and healthcare workers," said a protesting junior doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the incident took place.
The woman post-graduate trainee's body was discovered in a seminar hall of the hospital on Friday morning, and a civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.
To manage the situation, the state government has canceled the leave of all senior doctors, hoping they will handle the patient influx until the situation stabilizes.
Outpatient departments of state government hospitals typically experience a large volume of patients on Mondays.
The agitating doctors have received support from various parts of the country. The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India (FORDA) has endorsed the strike and called for a nationwide halt of elective services on Monday, informing the Union Health Ministry of their decision.
The West Bengal Doctors Forum has also appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for an impartial inquiry committee to investigate the rape and murder of the doctor, demanding increased security for doctors and health workers across the state and capital punishment for the perpetrator.