Kolkata rape-murder case: Doctors threaten nationwide strike, ramp up protests

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe of Kolkata’s trainee doctor’s rape and murder case, has summoned eight doctors and other medical staff from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for questioning.

Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police have arrested 10 people and detained three for vandalism at the hospital during the nationwide ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest. According to the police, a group of 40 to 50 people, under the garb of demonstrations, broke into the hospital premises late on Wednesday night and vandalised property.

The protest, which began on the eve of Independence Day, will continue today.

Expressing anger towards the lack of development in the case, the Delhi Medical Association’s President, Dr. Alok Bhandari, has called for a 24-hour strike, starting on Saturday.

Kolkata trainee doctor rape-murder case: Top developments
A comprehensive joint meeting was conducted by the representatives of Resident Doctor’s Associations (RDA), including AIIMS Delhi, Maulana Azad Medical College, and others. In the meeting, a unanimous decision was passed that all the RDAs across the national capital will conduct a joint protest march today, starting at 2 pm at Nirman Bhavan.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine starting from 6 am on Saturday in protest against the vandalism at RG Kar hospital.

The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) has called for a 12-hour strike across West Bengal today in protest against the vandalism at RG Kar hospital.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that the Trinamool Congress will hold a rally from Moulali to Dharmtala in Kolkata on August 17 while seeking justice for the Kolkata trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital.

Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mahila Morcha will hold a silent candlelight march in all district headquarters of West Bengal today against the brutal rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor in Kolkata.
The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association has also called for a day-long cease-work today in protest against the vandalism at the RG Kar Hospital.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) also called for a protest against the vandalism at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital at Azad Maidan in Mumbai today.

Kolkata Metro Railway on Thursday stated it would run normal services on August 16 amid a 12-hour general strike called by the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) party.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused the TMC of vandalism at Kolkata hospital, and wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the CBI regarding the vandalism that took place at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He requested them to deploy Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF).

The semi-naked body of the 32-year-old trainee doctor was found on August 9 in the seminar hall of the government-run hospital. A civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, linked to Kolkata Police has been arrested.