Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, resigned as junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees continued their strike for the fourth consecutive day on Monday, Calling for a judicial investigation into the rape and murder of a 31-year-old woman trainee doctor.
The protesting doctors and medical students had been calling for Dr. Ghosh’s resignation.
Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said he was being defamed on social media following the tragic incident, adding that the victim was like a daughter to him. He further added that he was resigning as a parent. Ghosh emphasized that such an incident should never happen to anyone in the future.
Table of content
- Protests halt hospital services.
- Police to question hospital staff.
- Kolkata police enhance women’s safety measures.
- Delhi doctors strike for safety.
Hospital Services Disrupted
Patients have dealt with the inconvenience as the outpatient departments (OPD at the hospital remained shut due to ongoing protests by the doctors over the heinous incident.
For the past three days, junior doctors were dealing with managing duties, however, by Monday, they had halted those responsibilities as well according to the sources from PTI.
Police Question Key Witnesses
The Kolkata police’s detective department is set to interrogate three doctors and one housekeeping staff member from the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital regarding the rape and murder of the woman trainee doctors, starting after 11 a.m
According to police sources, those being questioned include an intern doctor, two first-year post-graduate trainee doctors from the chest medicine department, and a housekeeping staff.
The individuals summoned were on night duty on August 9, the day the semi-nude body of the trainee was discovered. Some of them shared a meal with the victim before the incident occurred.
New Safety Measures Implemented by Police
Senior officials in the Kolkata police department have issued a safety alert for women in the state. The department has released new guidelines and vowed a zero-tolerance policy towards such incidents
Senior officials in the Kolkata police department have issued a safety alert for women in the city. The department has released new guidelines and pledged a zero-tolerance policy towards such incidents.
The police planned to first identify the areas which are at most risk of crimes against women and implement measures to increase their safety. This will include increased police patrolling throughout the city.
CCTV cameras will be installed in public areas wherever feasible and a CCTV cell will be established to facilitate prompt action against the crime, the city police will also review the security systems at government hospitals, and women’s hostels and implement measures to prevent future incidents.
The police plan to increase public engagement to raise awareness about women’s safety. This includes interaction with female doctors, college students, and school students to address issues that might threaten their safety.
Women police officers are designated to visit hospitals and colleges. All officers in charge have been instructed to brief their subordinates on women’s safety, proper public conduct, and appropriate communication with women and elderly
Additionally, the police will engage with hospital staff, including doctors and nurses to ensure their availability for any assistance. Security at medical colleges and government hospitals will be reviewed.
Important helpline numbers, email addresses, and other contact information will be provided to the public.
The order emphasized that there must be strict monitoring within the police force to maintain discipline. It stressed that police officers, including civic volunteers and village police, must adhere to the law, with zero tolerance for any breaches.
Countrywide Doctors Strike for Accountability
The case triggered widespread outrage across West Bengal and other states, prompting other medical students to protest and demand accountability for those responsible.
Doctors at ten government hospitals in Delhi including Ram Manohar Lohia have gone on strike, suspending all elective services.
The other participating hospitals in the strike include Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, GTB, and Maulana Azad Medical College.
The strike which began at 9 a.m. was organized by Resident Doctors Associations ( RDA). The protesting doctors demanded a CBI probe into the case and enhanced security for medical practitioners across India.
While OPDs are at a halt, emergency services remain operational
On August 9, the trainee doctor was found in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital with injury marks on her body in Kolkata, An autopsy later ascertained that she had been raped before being murdered. The accused, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested on August 10 (Saturday) and has been placed in 14-day police custody.
