Kolkata horror: Medical services stopped, morcha holds protest
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 17
Members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) gathered in the city today to show their solidarity with the doctor, who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, recently. More than 200 doctors marked their presence at the event, organised in response to the IMA’s national call for 24-hour closure of non- essential medical services, starting from 6 am today. The IMA Jalandhar chapter was led by its president Dr Deepak Chawla, honorary secretary Dr Archana Dutta and finance secretary Dr Abhishek Kumar in the event.
The BJP Mahila Morcha also held a protest over rape and murder of the Kolkata doctor. Headed by the morcha president Shama Chauhan, the protesters held a march from Company Bagh Chowk to Maharishi Valmiki Chowk.
Doctors close clinics, hospitals on IMA’s call
On the call of Indian Medical Association (IMA), doctors in Hoshiarpur district kept clinics and hospitals closed for the whole day on Saturday to protest against the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata. OPDs in hospitals remained closed and even alternative surgeries were not performed. During a press conference here, IMA members accused the West Bengal government of suppressing the matter and warned that if suspects were not caught and given severe punishment, doctors would wage a fierce struggle for justice. They also raised questioned over the intentions of the Central Government in this connection.
Addressing a press conference here, IMA district president Balwinderjit Singh and former state president
Dr Rajinder Sharma said doctors and health workers had come out on streets demanding justice for the victim doctor from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. They alleged that the West Bengal Government had tampered with the evidence and trying to suppress the case.
Protest march held in Nawanshahr
The Nawanshahr chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) took out a protest march on the city’s roads today, demanding justice and severe punishment for those responsible for the brutal gang rape and murder of a resident doctor in Kolkata.
The march, which began at the local Sukhmani Hospital, saw the participation of several doctors and medical professionals from the region, demonstrating the widespread outrage within the medical community.
Prominent figures leading the march included Dr Paramjit Maan, national assistant secretary of the IMA and Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, MLA from Banga. They were joined by several other members of the local medical fraternity, including Dr Manjit Singh, president of the local IMA unit and Dr Jaswinder Singh, among others.
During the protest, the IMA representatives strongly condemned the heinous crime while expressing their deep anger not only over the murder, but also over the recent vandalisation at the Government Medical College, Kolkata, and the violent attacks on trainee doctors who were peacefully raising their voices for justice.
The IMA called for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and insisted that they face exemplary punishment through a fast-track court. They also emphasised on the urgent need for stronger legislation to curb the growing incidents of violence and vandalism against hospitals and medical professionals. To further press for their demands, the IMA Nawanshahr, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner for PM Narendra Modi.
