In response to the alleged rape and murder of a junior woman doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, junior doctors across state-run medical institutions in West Bengal initiated a widespread work stoppage on Saturday.
Doctors from various institutions, including Calcutta Medical College, NRS Medical College, National Medical College, and Sagar Dutta Medical College, have joined the protest, demanding justice for the victim and enhanced safety measures within hospital premises. As a result, most government-run hospitals are currently only offering emergency and in-house patient services.
At R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, junior doctors staged a sit-in at the hospital’s main entrance, chanting slogans such as “No Safety, No Duty.” The protestors emphasized their demands for a judicial investigation into the incident and improved safety protocols, highlighting the lack of functioning CCTVs and inadequate rest facilities for on-duty doctors.
“We demand justice for our colleague. A transparent investigation is essential, and the culprit must be apprehended within 48 hours,” stated one of the protesting doctors. “A fast-track court should be established, and the perpetrator must face the highest penalty.”
The junior doctors at R G Kar also made it clear that they did not wish to politicize the issue, voicing their discontent when INTUC workers began protesting outside the hospital. They urged college authorities to keep student representatives informed about the case details and called for the installation of CCTV cameras in all necessary departments, 24/7 security coverage, and proper security in all hostels.
