HomeInternational NewsNationwide Strike in India After Trainee Doctor's Brutal Murder Spurs Protests

Nationwide Strike in India After Trainee Doctor’s Brutal Murder Spurs Protests

Hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers and their supporters in India have commenced a nationwide strike to protest violence against women following the brutal murder of a trainee doctor at a public hospital in Kolkata. The protests, which occurred on Saturday, were led by doctors and other healthcare staff and were joined by thousands of citizens demanding action.

Starting at 6:00 AM local time on Saturday, hospitals and clinics across the country shut their doors to non-emergency patients, admitting only those in need of urgent care. Medical students were called in to assist during emergencies.

“We want justice,” chanted the demonstrators who gathered in Kolkata to demand improved working conditions and better treatment for healthcare workers and women in general. “Hands that heal should not bleed,” read one handwritten sign.

The discovery of the bloodied body of the 31-year-old doctor on August 9 at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where she worked, has sparked intense outrage and protests across multiple cities in India. An autopsy confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted.

“We do not feel safe,” stated Antara Das, a medical student who participated in the Kolkata protest. “If this can happen in a hospital, which is our second home, where can we feel safe?”

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the largest association of doctors with 400,000 members, condemned “a barbaric act and the lack of safe spaces for women.” They emphasized that both the healthcare staff and the country as a whole are “victims.”

The strike took place in several cities, including Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Guwahati in Assam, and Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Dr. Rakhi Sanyal from Kolkata criticized the “brutal murder” and called for “justice” for the victim.

“It is the administration’s duty to ensure our safety,” she said. “This should never have happened.”

The doctors are demanding the implementation of the Central Protection Act, a law aimed at protecting healthcare personnel from violence. They are also calling for stricter legislation that categorizes any attack on medical staff as a non-bailable offense.

One man has been arrested in connection with the case, which is now being investigated by federal authorities after state government officials were accused of mishandling the inquiry. Many cases of violence against women go unreported in India due to stigma and a lack of trust in the police.

In 2022, more than 31,000 rapes were reported in India according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). At a rally in New Delhi, a placard displayed the message: “Enough is enough.”

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