J&K doctors protest against rape, murder of Kolkata medico

Srinagar, August 17: Doctors across Jammu and Kashmir medical colleges on Saturday held protest against the brutal rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The Indian Medical Association or IMA had on Friday announced a nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency medical services for 24 hours beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday to protest against the rape and murder case.
The doctors, faculty members of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar and medical students held a protest in the college campus to raise their voices against the gruesome incident. The protest saw huge participation by students and faculty members as well.
The doctors were holding placards which read “Justice for Our Sister”, “Safety for Doctors”, and “End Violence Against Women.” The interns also marched solemnly while raising slogans that demanded immediate action against the culprits.
“We are here not as doctors but as human beings, pained to the core by the senseless violence that has taken the life of one of our own. This is not just an attack on a doctor, it is an attack on the dignity and safety of women everywhere. We demand that the authorities leave no stone unturned in bringing the culprits to justice,” said a protesting doctor.
They have also raised the bigger issue of doctors’ safety, especially the fairer sex among the medical profession who have to put in long hours at work in not-so-easy environments.
“We are committed to saving lives, but we are always under threat of violence whether in hospitals or outside. The government should come up with more stringent laws and a safe working environment for all health workers,’’ a GMC student said.
The doctors demanded that if a female doctor is assigned night duties they should be given night accommodation in the hospitals so that they do not face any kind of incidents.
Raising pro justice slogans they also demand overhaul of working and living conditions of resident doctors, including the 36-hour duty shift that the victim was in.
“The government in Jammu and Kashmir should work for the safety of female staff of hospitals whether medical colleges or the other healthcare facilities,” they said.
Except OPD and elective OTS, emergency services, emergency OTs and ICUs continued to operate. “It is unfortunate for us to have to come to this decision but it is a matter of our safety and security which has long been disregarded by the concerned authorities. Zero tolerance can be afforded in this regard,” they said.
Doctors in SKIMS Soura have also protested against the rape and murder demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits.
As per witnesses a huge gathering of doctors gathered at the institute and held strong protests against the incident and also called for facilities in hospitals for the women staff.
In North Kashmir doctors and staff at SDH Sopore held a protest to demand justice for brutal rape and murder of the Kolkata doctor. They raised slogans demanding immediate action against the culprits and also highlighted the need for improving security measures.
Similarly, the resident doctors of GMC Jammu and Associated Hospitals have also held peaceful protests and went on indefinite strike in solidarity with the doctor.
Doctors said the protest march was taken out from GMC to Super Speciality Hospital (SSH). A large number of resident doctors not only from GMC Jammu but also its Associated Hospitals participated in the protest march. They demanded justice for the victim doctor and strengthening of security measures in different parts of GMC Jammu. Similar protests were also held in GMC Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri and ASCOMS.
The doctors appealed to the government to implement security measures in hospitals and medical institutions to protect doctors and other healthcare workers, especially women.
In Jammu, the Doctors Association Jammu (DAJ) also supported and expressed solidarity and unity with their medico professionals of West Bengal and India.
There were protests at District Hospital Ramban, medical staff protested against the rape and murder of the Kalkata doctor, demanding an exemplary punishment to the culprits.
In Ladakh region, doctors and paramedical staff also expressed solidarity with slain Kolkata doctor and demanded stronger protection for doctors in the region and in India. They also joined the nationwide protest led by the IMA.
Vice President All Ladakh Doctors Welfare Association, Dr Mohd Abass said the tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the medical community, prompting an urgent call for stronger legal protections for healthcare workers.
Doctors said healthcare services in Kargil were largely affected as medical professionals stood in unity with their colleagues across the country, expressing their grief and anger.
Local medical associations in Kargil echoed the IMA’s call, urging the government to take swift action to prevent such tragedies from recurring.