Thousands of doctors have halted services nationwide after a 31-year-old trainee medic was found dead in a hospital. Medical services in several Indian cities have been disrupted as the protest, which started in Kolkata, has spread across the country.
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| Doctors protesting against the rape and murder of a female doctor |
The incident occurred at a government-run hospital in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state. On Monday, thousands of doctors marched in Kolkata and other cities in the state, demanding justice for the victim and improved security measures. A police volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime.
By Tuesday, the protests had extended to other parts of India. In Maharashtra, a state in western India that includes Mumbai, more than 8,000 government doctors halted work in all hospital departments except for emergency services, according to local media reports. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association called for a nationwide suspension of elective services in hospitals starting Monday.
The initial autopsy suggested that she was sexually assaulted and murdered. The preliminary report indicated that the victim had injuries, including bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and private parts, as well as wounds on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger, and lips.
According to the evidence, the doctor might have been murdered before being raped. On Sunday, the Kolkata Police team investigating the case collected samples from the hospital's seminar hall, where the woman's body was found on Friday morning. A civic volunteer who often visited the hospital was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.
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| A civic volunteer who often visited the hospital was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime |
Police also recreated the crime scene, though the arrested suspect was not present. After the crime, the suspect reportedly went to a police barrack and slept until Friday morning. The investigation revealed that the arrested man was also involved with a welfare unit of the Kolkata Police.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the hospital for the second time in three days and held meetings with officials. He stated that they are questioning those who were on duty the night before the crime and reviewing CCTV footage. Police have also seized the clothes and shoes worn by the suspect during the crime.
When asked if anyone else was involved, the officer said, "So far, there is no evidence of that." The suspect had washed the clothes he wore during the crime, but his blood-stained shoes were found at the place where he was staying.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to seek the death penalty for the perpetrator. Meanwhile, a large police presence has been deployed at the hospital to ensure the safety of health workers. The hospital authorities have also fired two security personnel from the emergency ward for not performing their duties properly, which, in a way, allowed the crime to happen.
NS Nigam, a state official, informed Reuters that emergency services were suspended on Tuesday in almost all government-run medical college hospitals in Kolkata, and the government was evaluating the impact on healthcare services.
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| Doctors protesting against the rape and murder of a female doctor | Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI |
In New Delhi, junior doctors, clad in white coats, held posters reading, “Doctors are not punching bags,” as they protested outside a major government hospital. Similar demonstrations were reported in cities such as Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, and in Goa, a popular tourist destination, disrupting some hospital services.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country’s largest doctors' association, expressed their concerns in a letter to Health Minister JP Nadda, which was released before their meeting on Tuesday. They highlighted the "pedestrian working conditions, inhuman workloads, and violence in the workplace" as ongoing issues. IMA General Secretary Anil Kumar J Nayak told ANI news agency that his organization urged Nadda to enhance security at medical facilities.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare did not immediately respond. A doctor at Gobind Ballabh Pant Hospital in Agartala, a northeastern city, told the Indian Express newspaper, “We feel a free and fair atmosphere is required for doctors, or else, no skilled work is possible. We also demand the installation of CCTV cameras in the hospitals.”
A high court in Kolkata has ordered the criminal investigation to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), signaling that the case is being treated as a national priority.
The National Medical Commission, India's medical education regulator, issued a notice to all medical institutions, calling for the installation of CCTV cameras in sensitive areas and ensuring adequate security staff. The notice, reported on Tuesday, also called for proper lighting in all corridors during the evening to ensure staff can move safely.
Doctors working in India’s crowded and often poorly maintained government hospitals have long complained of being overworked and underpaid, with insufficient measures in place to protect them from violence from individuals upset with the quality of medical care provided.