Indian Doctors on Strike After Colleague’s Rape and Murder

Doctors across India have initiated a nationwide strike in response to the rape and murder of a female colleague in Kolkata, West Bengal. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country’s largest medical organization, has announced that all non-essential hospital services will be suspended on Saturday.

The IMA has condemned the recent crime as a “barbaric act reflecting the lack of safe spaces for women” and has called for national support in its “fight for justice.” The strike, which will last for 24 hours, will see emergency and casualty services continue to operate.

According to IMA President R. V. Asokan, while doctors have long protested against violence, this incident is particularly alarming. “If such a crime can occur in a medical college in a major city, it underscores the widespread insecurity faced by doctors,” he said.

Earlier this week, doctors at some government hospitals had already stopped elective procedures indefinitely. The IMA has demanded stronger laws to protect medical staff, enhanced hospital security, and the establishment of safe spaces for rest. It has also called for a thorough investigation into the crime and the prosecution of those involved in vandalism, alongside compensation for the victim’s family.

The brutal assault on the 31-year-old trainee doctor has shocked the nation. Her body, showing severe injuries, was found in a seminar hall at R G Kar Medical College, where she had reportedly gone to rest. A hospital volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime. Following criticism of the local police’s handling of the case, it has been transferred to India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The incident has intensified discussions on violence against women in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that such “monstrous behavior” should be met with severe and swift punishment. The case has also sparked political controversy in West Bengal, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) of orchestrating the attack, an accusation the TMC denies, attributing the violence to “political outsiders.”

In response, tens of thousands of women participated in the Reclaim the Night march on Wednesday night, demanding freedom from fear. Despite the largely peaceful nature of the protests, clashes occurred when a group of unidentified men vandalized the RG Kar Hospital’s emergency ward. At least 25 arrests have been made in connection with these disturbances.

Protests have spread to other Indian cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune. “It feels like hope is being reignited,” said Sumita Datta, one of the demonstrators, as thousands rallied in Kolkata on Friday.