Horror gripped Kolkata as a young female doctor was found brutally murdered inside the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The half-naked body of the 32 year old doctor was found in the seminar hall of the Kolkata's government hospital.
The initial autopsy reports of the second year senior resident of R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, revealed injury marks suggesting violence, sexual assault and murder.
The second year post-graduate trainee was on night duty and went to the seminar hall for rest after her rounds around 3:00 am. She was beaten, assaulted and strangulated to death by unknown person. The incident took place between 3:00 am to 6:00 am. It is still unclear if it was a planned attack and whether multiple person were involved.
The Kolkata police has claimed that a 'civic volunteer has been arrested in relation to the heinous crime. The said volunteer had access to all the areas of R.G Kar medical college and hospital and on the night of the incident he had been drinking till 3:00 am in the morning before entering the college premises.
After committing the crime, the accused returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence, a police officer probing the case claimed.
The police, however, found marks of blood on the shoe of the accused. The civic volunteer is not associated with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, but used to have access to the place.
Autopsy report state the horror the doctor suffered before her painful death, mentioning multiple injuries on body, bleeding from eyes, mouth, broken ribs, injured finger, nails, hands, leg, stomach and broken neck. The reports suggest that the doctor was strangulated and killed.
Ten medical colleges- Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, GTB, IHBAS, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, and National Institute of TB and Respiratory diseases hospital have declared indefinite strike demanding.
The incident sparked widespread outcry in West Bengal and other states, with medical students and doctors holding protests to hold those responsible accountable.
…everyone should condemn this incident. Yesterday, we issued a notice under FORDA for a nationwide strike where we demanded a few things...We will call off the strike when our demands will be addressed as we don't want the patients to suffer. The emergency services are going on for the convenience of patients...FORDA India president Dr Aviral Mathur
The protest by doctors all over the country demanding justice and arrest of culprits has led to nationwide strike and raised demand for protection of the frontiers of the noble profession.
After meeting Secretary MoHFW, Apurva Chandra, FORDA General Secretary Dr. Sarvesh Pandey, said “We met the Health Secretary. We released a press release yesterday mentioning our demands that the Principal of RG Kar Medical College should be removed immediately, CBI inquiry, fast-track court and that a committee of the Central Protection Act.”
Amidst the calls for 'transparent investigation', the doctors, interns and nurses expressed their anger towards the management of the college for their insensitive remarks stating 'what was the girl doing alone at night'.
The demand for resignation of Principal of R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital led to Dr. Sandip Ghosh's resignation from the post.
“...I am getting defamed on social media...The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign... this should happen to anyone in future…,” he told media persons.
“A CBI fast-track investigation because the State Government's investigation is very biased. They want to nab any innocent and silence us. But we won't let this happen. This is a gang-rape and murder, committed by 2-3 people. This is Nirbhaya part 2,” said a doctor, protesting at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi.
BMC MARD has announced the suspension of elective/non-emergency medical services by resident doctors from 8 am on August 13 until the acceptance of demands of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College residents,
Immediate appointment of a central agency to investigate the case, establishment of a Central Protection Act,
Immediate action against culprit/s
Installation of the security measures at all medial institutions along with detailed report on the total number of CCTV cameras installed in respective hospitals are met.
The government must take significant steps to secure justice for the victim. The incident is not only a reflection of systemic failures at the hospital level, but it also points toward broader societal issues that demand immediate and focused attention.Junior doctors of R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Junior doctors, house staff and post-graduate trainees (PGT) at various state-run hospitals, who are also demanding security for them in medical establishments, began a cease work since Friday evening.
"The government must take significant steps to secure justice for the victim. The incident is not only a reflection of systemic failures at the hospital level, but it also points toward broader societal issues that demand immediate and focused attention," said agitated junior doctors of R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital.
With the protest firing up all over the nation and demands for strict action, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vowed to seek death penalty for the perpetrator.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Police deployed a huge contingent at the hospital on Sunday after the doctor's brutal rape-murder sparks nationwide protest.
"No one will be allowed inside the hospital premises without proper identification. We will ensure total safety of the health workers in the medical establishment," the officer said.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Abhilasha Manker/ MSM)