Junior doctors from government hospitals across West Bengal, along with concerned citizens, held torch rallies on Sunday, pushing for justice in the case of a rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College. The protests came just ahead of a significant Supreme Court hearing regarding the case.
The junior doctors, who previously staged a 41-day cease-work protest, are calling for improved safety measures at hospitals. Their main demands are justice for the victim and increased security for medical staff at their workplaces. The rallies took place at key medical institutions including RG Kar Hospital, Sagore Dutta Hospital, SSKM Hospital, Calcutta Medical College, and Jadavpur.
The rallies were led by the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, a group representing medical professionals from hospitals across the state. Besides justice for the victim, the protests highlighted the issue of a “threat culture” prevalent in medical colleges, where students reportedly face intimidation.
The protests gained momentum after reports surfaced of an assault on three doctors and three nurses at Sagore Dutta Hospital. Medical staff argue that these attacks show the government’s failure to deliver on its promises to improve security at hospitals.
Junior doctors have warned they may resume their full cease-work strike if the state government does not take urgent steps to improve security at hospitals. “We are giving an ultimatum to the state government,” said one junior doctor. “If the government fails to take positive measures to strengthen security in hospitals and improve infrastructure, we will go on a full strike from Monday.”
The victim, a trainee doctor, was found dead in a seminar room at RG Kar Hospital on August 9. The autopsy confirmed she had been sexually assaulted and severely injured. CCTV footage led to the arrest of the main suspect, Sanjay Roy, whose Bluetooth headphones were found near the crime scene. The case has since been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Following the incident, there were widespread protests across the country, with people demanding swift justice for the victim and calling attention to the broader issue of safety for medical professionals in West Bengal. The Supreme Court hearing is now a focal point for the ongoing movement.
