Medical Strike in India Following Brutal Rape-Murder of Doctor

Hospitals in India halted non-emergency services as doctors protested the rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor. The strike affected over a million medical professionals, causing nationwide disruptions. Protests highlighted recurring violence against women and demanded swift justice. Police and CBI are investigating the crime.

Hospitals and clinics across India turned away patients except for emergencies on Saturday as medical professionals initiated a 24-hour shutdown in protest against the brutal rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. More than one million doctors joined the strike, paralyzing medical services nationwide. Faculty staff from medical colleges were deployed for emergency cases.

The strike, starting at 6 a.m. (0030 GMT), halted elective procedures and out-patient consultations, according to the Indian Medical Association. The crime against the 31-year-old trainee doctor has sparked nationwide protests, echoing the 2012 Delhi bus gang rape. Heavy police presence was reported outside RG Kar Medical College, the crime scene, while the hospital was deserted.

West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has supported the protests, calling for swift justice. In Odisha, hospitals struggled with patient overload due to the strike. The CBI is currently investigating the incident, questioning medical students and hospital staff to uncover details of the crime.