India’s medical professionals initiated a nationwide strike on Saturday in response to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a government hospital in West Bengal. The strike, organized by the Indian Medical Association, the country’s largest group of doctors, aims to shut down all non-essential services in hospitals for 24 hours.
The work stoppage has impacted thousands of patients throughout India. Protests have escalated in recent days, largely led by women advocating for a safer working environment for medical staff.
The tragedy occurred on August 9 when the police found the lifeless body of the 31-year-old trainee doctor in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A police volunteer associated with the hospital has been taken into custody, but the victim’s family contends that a gang was involved in the crime, which has been confirmed as a case of sexual assault by an autopsy. Federal investigators have taken over the case following accusations that state officials mishandled the investigation.
On Wednesday night, thousands of women across the country participated in “Reclaim The Night” marches, calling for justice for the victim. Some demonstrators demanded the death penalty for the offenders.
The medical workers are insisting on justice for the victim and the assurance of safety for doctors and paramedics working in hospitals. Many have limited their services to emergency treatment, with plans for additional strikes over the weekend. The doctors argue that the incident underscores the precariousness faced by medical personnel who lack adequate safety measures in healthcare settings across India.
The Indian Medical Association has sought public support in their quest for justice, describing the killing as a “crime of barbaric scale” resulting from the absence of safe working environments for women. They are also advocating for tougher laws to protect medical professionals, including making assaults on on-duty medics a non-bailable offense.
Sexual violence against women remains a significant issue in India. A high number of such crimes go unreported due to societal stigma and a general distrust of law enforcement. Women’s rights advocates note that the situation is particularly dire in rural regions, where victims fear community backlash and concerns over family reputation may discourage them from seeking justice.
The number of reported rape cases in India has risen sharply, with 31,516 incidents recorded in 2022, reflecting a 20 percent increase from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.