Rape and murder of Indian medic sparks doctor strike

The brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital has sparked walkouts across India and calls for a nationwide strike.

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

Protesters demanded “justice for our didi [elder sister]” outside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the 31-year-old medic was found dead. The Independent spoke to doctors who unanimously agreed that the facility lacked safety measures for medical workers.

The demonstrations began last week after the doctor was found dead inside a seminar hall of the hospital on Friday. An autopsy later confirmed she had been sexually assaulted.

“She was very close to me – taught me most of the work I know today,” a student at the medical college, who did not want to be named, told The Independent. “I was working in the same department as an intern last year where she was found dead. This could happen to any of us in the future due to lack of security measures,” she said. “We want the hospital authorities to take responsibility. What are they hiding?”

The local police arrested a civil volunteer associated with the Kolkata Police, Sanjay Roy, and remanded him to 14 days of custody. The suspect has been charged with rape and murder.

The protesting doctors in Kolkata and elsewhere have called for an unbiased investigation into the killing, the resignation of all responsible hospital authorities, adequate security for all medical staff, and speedy ratification of a healthcare protection law.

The victim was last seen after midnight on 9 August before she went to a third-floor seminar hall of the pulmonology department in the emergency building of the hospital during her 36-hour on-call duty.

Her partially naked body with visible marks of abuse was discovered by fellow students after 7am (local time) on Friday, who informed the police.