Indian doctors on strike over rape and murder of colleague
Doctors in India have launched a nationwide strike, intensifying their protest against the rape and murder of a female colleague in Kolkata, West Bengal. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country's largest organization of doctors, announced that all non-essential hospital services would be suspended across the nation on Saturday.
The IMA condemned the recent killing as a "barbaric crime" stemming from the lack of safe spaces for women and urged the public to support their "struggle for justice." Protests calling for stronger protection of women have gained momentum in recent days, particularly after a mob vandalized the hospital where the attack occurred.
In a statement, the IMA clarified that emergency and casualty services would continue, and the strike would last for 24 hours. Earlier this week, doctors at some government hospitals had already begun indefinitely halting elective procedures.
The IMA also put forth a series of demands, including stronger laws to protect medical staff from violence, increased security at hospitals, and the establishment of safe spaces for rest. They called for a "meticulous and professional investigation" into the murder, prosecution of those responsible for the vandalism, and compensation for the victim's family.
The rape and murder of the 31-year-old female trainee doctor have shocked the nation. Her partially clothed body, bearing severe injuries, was found in a seminar hall at R G Kar Medical College last week after she had reportedly gone there to rest during her shift. A hospital volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime. Amid criticism over the lack of progress in the case, it has been transferred from local police to India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The incident has led to a surge in reports of rape across India, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare that "monstrous behavior against women should be severely and quickly punished."
The rape and murder have also ignited a political blame game in West Bengal. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) of orchestrating the attack, a claim the TMC has denied, instead blaming "political outsiders" for inciting the violence.
On Wednesday night, tens of thousands of women across West Bengal took part in the Reclaim the Night march, demanding "independence to live in freedom and without fear." Although most protests remained peaceful, clashes broke out between police and a small group of unidentified men who stormed RG Kar Hospital—the crime scene—and ransacked its emergency ward. So far, at least 25 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Protests have also spread to other Indian cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune. "It feels like hope is being reignited," one demonstrator, Sumita Datta, told AFP as thousands marched through the streets of Kolkata on Friday.
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