The Indian Medical Association is observing a 24-hour nationwide strike and withdrawal of non-emergency medical services on Saturday, August 17, 2024, to protest against the rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and the vandalism incident at the state-run medical facility in the eastern Indian city on the intervening night of Independence Day.
“Subsequent to the brutal crime in RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata and the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of Independence Day, the Indian Medical Association declares nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine from 6 am on Saturday i.e 17th of August to 6 am Sunday 18th of August, for 24 hours”, IMA said in a statement.
“All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function, and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all the sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing service”, the largest organisation of doctors in India said.
Several major medical associations like All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) and Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) have joined the strike.
The latest update on RG Kar incident
The parents of the trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital informed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that several interns and physicians from the organisation may be involved in the crime, an officer was quoted as saying in media reports on Friday.
The parents also gave the central agency names of people who they suspect are involved in their daughter’s rape and murder at the state-run hospital.
The CBI is investigating the case under an order from the Calcutta High Court.
Earlier in the day, the CBI summoned a house staff member and two post-graduate trainees who were on duty with the doctor the night she was raped and murdered. The CBI took the former hospital principal, Dr Sandip Ghosh, to the CGO complex in Salt Lake for questioning.
Dr Ghosh had resigned two days after the woman’s body was found. He said he feared being attacked and sought protection from the Calcutta High Court, which directed him to approach a single Bench.
The CBI made the arrested accused, a civic volunteer, walk through a reconstruction of the crime scene using an advanced 3D method in the seminar hall of the hospital, the officer said.
The body of the post-graduate trainee was found in the seminar room on August 9.
What happened in RG Kar?
The trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which is located in North Kolkata’s Belgachia area.
She was found in a half naked state with multiple injuries in the whole body from neck and eyes to private parts. The parents were initially told by the hospital that their daughter committed suicide.
One person, a civic volunteer, has been arrested in connection with the case but protesting students suspect more people are involved in the crime.
