‘Raise your voice’: Indian community in US seeks justice for Kolkata trainee doctor

Several people from the Indian community, including doctors and other medical professionals, organised a series of events.

In the United States to highlight their demand for justice following the rape-murder of an on-duty female doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The body of the 31-year-old trainee doctor with severe injury marks was found earlier this month inside the seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital’s chest department. The preliminary autopsy report suggested she was subjected to violent sexual assault, evoking widespread protests from medical and non-medical fraternities in that state and others.

People in several cities of the US, including Miami, Florida, Chicago, Boston and New York, lit candles to spell out justice and held placards with messages calling for respect and empowerment of women.

In addition, as many as 37 notable medical associations such as the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), Lady Hardinge Medical College Alumni Association of North America (LHMC), AIIMSONIANS of America (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi), Connecticut Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (CAPI) also extended their support for justice to the trainee doctor.

A letter has also been sent to President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and the Chief Justice of India, to seek justice for the female doctor.

Speaking to India Today TV, Dr Sanjay Bindra, President of the GOSUMEC foundation, said, “I urge the Indian government to implement strict laws to ensure physician safety.”

Earlier on Thursday, Indian-origin female medics in the UK also expressed solidarity with the protests taking place in India demanding justice for the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered in West Bengal.