Protests have spread across India over the rape and murder of a female doctor at the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. Health services were disrupted on Tuesday due to protests and strikes by doctors.

The protestors demanded a fair investigation and trial of the murder of the woman doctor. Demanding to ensure security in the hospital, the doctors said, they will not return to work if security is not ensured.

21 hospitals have called for a strike across the state. This includes all the medical colleges and hospitals of Kolkata, the capital city of New Delhi and Mumbai, and the doctors have also protested in the states of Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. Doctors did not provide any services except emergency services. However, in some hospitals, keeping in mind the problems of the patients, the strike has been rushed.

After a one-hour symbolic strike, services have returned to normal.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) said what happened at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital needs a fair investigation. The culprits should be punished severely. At the same time, the safety of doctors must be ensured.

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has directed the Central Investigation Agency (CBI) to investigate the murder after the rape of the doctor. Justice TS Shivagnam gave this order on Tuesday. Expressing displeasure with the role of the police in this incident, the court said that all the information, documents and CCTV camera footage with the state should be handed over to the CBI. The CBI officials reached the police station within moments of the instructions.

It is to be noted that last Friday, the body of a female doctor was recovered in a bloody state on the fourth floor of the emergency department of RG Kar Medical College.

The incident created an uproar in the state. The junior doctors of RG Kar joined the movement by raising allegations of murder and rape. Later, other doctors joined the movement. But that movement was not limited to RG tax. Demonstration programs were held from different hospitals of the state to different hospitals of the country.
Source: Anandabazar newspaper