Doctors Protest Against Kolkata Tragedy

Junior doctors at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi initiated a 'pen-down' protest against the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata. Demanding a CBI probe, they boycotted OPD services but continued emergency care. Medical practitioners across several colleges joined in solidarity with candlelight vigils.

Junior doctors at the state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi started a 'pen-down' agitation on Tuesday, boycotting OPD services and elective surgeries to protest the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata.

Despite their protest, they continued to attend to emergency services at the premier hospital.

The doctors are calling for a CBI probe into the incident at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.

''Around 200 doctors have joined the agitation, and senior resident doctors have supported our stir. Our protest excludes emergency services as we do not want any patient in need to suffer,'' stated Ankit Kumar, president of the Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) at RIMS.

''Apart from a CBI probe, we also demand the safety of doctors at the workplace,'' he added.

The doctors raised slogans on the RIMS campus, condemning the incident. Kumar mentioned that a decision on continuing the stir would be made following a late evening meeting on Tuesday. The RIMS authority reported that OPD services were provided to 271 people and IPD to 149 people till the evening. Meanwhile, medical practitioners from MGM Medical College and Hospital (Jamshedpur), Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (Dhanbad), Phulo Jano Medical College and Hospital (Dumka), Sheikh Bhikari Medical College and Hospital (Hazaribag), and Medinirai Medical College and Hospital (Palamu) held candlelight vigils on Tuesday evening.

(With inputs from agencies.)