RG Kar Doctor Death: Resident Medics' Body Threatens To Shutdown Hospital Services, Demands Action In 24 Hours
Federation of Resident Doctors Association announced a nationwide halt of elective services in hospitals in solidarity with residents of RG Kar Medical College protesting the death of a doctor.
Massive protests have erupted among doctors and medical professionals in medical colleges and hospitals across the country following the alleged rape and murder of a female doctor at the State-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal's Kolkata. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has issued a letter announcing a nationwide halting of elective services in hospitals in solidarity with protesting RG Kar Medical College residents on Monday (August 12).
In their letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, FORDA demanded immediate action in the case of the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor and warned that if their demands are not met within 24 hours, they will consider escalating their action.
On Saturday, doctors from across Delhi held candle marches denouncing the murder of the 32-year-old woman. The marches, organised at various medical colleges and hospitals, saw doctors holding posters and candles and demanding a CBI inquiry into the death of the resident doctor, whose semi-nude body was found in the seminar hall of the government-run hospital on Thursday night.
Dr Dhruv Chauhan, the National Council Member of the Indian Medical Association's Junior Doctors Network, said the incident has raised concerns about the safety of doctors working in hospitals. "This horrific incident has ignited widespread alarm within the medical fraternity nationwide. The fear is so intense that doctors are now concerned about performing their duties unless strict security measures are implemented," he said.
Doctors have been demanding the strict enforcement of the Central Protection Act and increased security in the workplace. "If they cannot be safe in their own hospitals and colleges, where can they be safe? How can they ensure the safety of their patients when their own lives are insecure," he asked.
BJP, CPI(M) Demand CBI Inquiry
The BJP has demanded a CBI probe into the incident. Union Minister of State and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said the injury marks on the victim suggested involvement of more than one person in the heinous crime.
The body of the woman doctor was found inside the seminar hall of RG Kar hospital in north Kolkata on Friday. A preliminary autopsy report has confirmed sexual abuse before she was killed, police said. Police arrested one person for his alleged involvement in the sexual assault and murder of the trainee doctor at the state-run hospital, a senior officer said, adding that the arrested youth, an outsider, had free access to the different departments of the hospital.
Majumdar said that the arrest of a person could be an eyewash. "Only a CBI probe can uncover the entire truth and deliver justice for the young woman, who was on the verge of a promising future," he said.
The state BJP chief also criticised police for their delayed response, suggesting that they initially tried to pass off the case as a suicide and only acted after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened. He questioned whether police need to be prompted by the CM to investigate serious incidents.
CPI(M) state Secretary Md Salim dismissed the police investigation as inadequate and expressed scepticism about a CBI probe under the BJP-led central government, suggesting it might have a covert alignment with the ruling TMC. He called for a high-level judicial inquiry instead.
TMC's Reaction
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh expressed surprise at the ongoing protests, stating that while protests are understandable, the Chief Minister’s willingness to accept an external probe and her commitment to seeking the death penalty for the accused should address concerns.
Ghosh urged against further politicisation of the issue, noting that the CM has made it clear that if the charges are proven, police will seek the death penalty, so there should be no further politicisation of this matter.
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