Junior doctors in Kolkata organized a rally demanding justice for a post-graduate trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
The event drew a significant turnout, with medical professionals and community members participating in a torch rally at the West Bengal Medical Council's office in Salt Lake and concluded at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in the CGO Complex, Sector 1.
The rally, led by the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (WBJDF) and supported by various civil society organizations, was marked by slogans like "We want justice!" Participants expressed their frustration over the slow progress of the CBI's investigation into the case, with one doctor stating, "It’s been nearly three months since this tragic incident occurred, yet the CBI’s investigation is still ongoing. We urge them to accelerate their efforts."
The rally's tragic backdrop underscores the medical community's deep concerns. The body of the on-duty woman medic was discovered in the seminar hall of RG Kar Hospital, prompting junior doctors across West Bengal to initiate a 'cease work' movement demanding justice for their colleagues and more robust security measures in state-run medical establishments.
Tensions escalated on October 5, when junior doctors began a hunger strike after the West Bengal government failed to meet their demands within a 24-hour deadline. This protest, which drew significant attention to their cause, was called off on October 24 after negotiations with the government.
The voices of the junior doctors reflect a united front in their ongoing struggle to secure a safer working environment in the wake of this tragic incident as they continue to advocate for both their colleagues and the larger medical community.