Andhra Pradesh: Junior doctors, medical students protest at AIIMS Mangalagiri against Kolkata doctor rape, murder

Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 17 (ANI): All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Mangalagiri junior doctors and medical students held a protest on Saturday against the rape and murder at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, demanding justice for the victim.

A protesting student told ANI, “Days after the incident, we have failed as humans and as Indian society, as not much progress has been made in the case.”

“I truly feel that, three days after this incident, we have truly failed as humanity and as Indian society. The only question that arises out of this is that, while the entire nation’s doctors are standing today against the monstrous act that happened three days ago, there has still been no promising progress. We will not stop until we get justice,” a protestor told ANI.

A faculty member who also participated in the protest questioned, After 78 years of independence, if we can’t have a safe workplace, what can we assume?

“Today, to seek justice for our fellow sisters and fellow human, we are protesting. Our basic demand is a safe workplace for every individual, but more so for women. When our workplace ceases to be safe, the biggest problem starts. Since 78 years of independence, if we can’t have a safe workplace, what can we assume?” she told ANI.

A third-year student said that it was high time that doctors got a Central Protection Act (CPA) for their protection.

“The AIIMS Mangalagiri family has united to ask for justice against what has happened. It is high time we got a Central Protection Act (CPA) for all of us to be protected. We are not safe at our own workspace,” a third-year student told ANI.

The rape and murder of the trainee doctor have sparked nationwide outrage, drawing responses from various sectors.

West Bengal Congress workers held a rally against the incident, while members of the LGBTQIA+ community staged a protest on Saturday, demanding justice for the victim.

Earlier today, Junior doctors and medical students held protests at Mangalagiri AIIMS Hospital and Delhi’s Lady Hardinge Medical College. West Bengal Congress workers also rallied against the incident, while ABVP workers protested against the TMC government of West Bengal.

In response, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine starting from 6 am on Saturday, August 17 to 6 am Sunday, August 18.

Indian Medical Association (IMA) National President Dr Asokan on Saturday said that the time is ripe for PM Narendra Modi’s intervention into the rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata adding that they will be writing to the Prime Minister.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a 24-hour withdrawal of services by all the modern medicine doctors of the country, irrespective of the sector and place of work, in response to nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a second-year trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College.

While emergencies and casualties will function, the IMA said that OPDs or elective surgeries will be suspended from 6 am on Saturday till 6 am on Sunday, August 18, 2024.

On August 14, a mob of between 5,000 and 7,000 people, including several individuals, invaded RG Kar Hospital, attacked protesting doctors and medical students, and attempted to ransack the premises, forcing security officials to disperse the crowd.

On August 16, Kolkata police said they had arrested 19 miscreants allegedly involved in the mob violence at the hospital premises.

On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, triggering nationwide protests by doctors and medical professionals.