The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued a stern 48-hour ultimatum demanding immediate action in the horrific rape and murder of a second-year postgraduate resident doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in north Kolkata. The IMA has warned that failure to address their demands will result in nationwide protests by the medical community.
The body of the trainee doctor, a resident in the department of chest medicine, was discovered in a semi-naked state inside the seminar hall of the government-run hospital on Friday morning. The autopsy revealed that the young doctor was sexually assaulted, strangled, and smothered to death. The detailed injuries, including severe bleeding from the eyes, mouth, and private parts, have intensified calls for justice.
The IMA condemned the prevailing conditions that allowed such a heinous crime to occur on the campus and described the incident as a reflection of the “anarchy and insecurity” at the medical institution. The association has outlined three critical demands: a thorough and unbiased investigation into the crime, a comprehensive inquiry into the conditions that enabled it, and urgent measures to enhance the safety and security of doctors, particularly women, in their workplaces.
The IMA’s ultimatum comes as police have arrested one individual, described as an outsider, who is alleged to have been involved in the assault and murder. The accused has been remanded to police custody for 14 days, facing charges under sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the BNS.
In response to the murder, CPI(M) workers held a rally in Kolkata, demanding justice and criticizing the local authorities for their handling of the case. Md Salim, West Bengal secretary of CPI(M), accused the Principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital of being too close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and alleged that the Police Commissioner of Kolkata was suppressing the case. Salim called for a judicial inquiry into the incident, asserting that the city once known as the ‘City of Joy’ has now become a ‘City of Fear’ where even doctors are not safe.
The IMA’s threat of nationwide protests underscores the gravity of the situation and the medical community’s determination to seek justice for the victim and ensure better safety measures for medical professionals.
Sources By Agencies
