Junior Doctors Stage 'Pen Down' Protest in Ranchi

Junior doctors at Jharkhand's Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences are protesting for the second consecutive day against the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata. They demand central laws for doctor safety, installation of security cameras, and special night shift security. OPD and elective surgeries may be affected.

Junior doctors at the state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, Jharkhand, continued their 'pen down' agitation for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, protesting against the rape and murder of a woman medico in Kolkata.

In a show of solidarity, the agitating doctors planned to hold a rally this evening from the Rimsonian Hall on campus to press for their demands. They have welcomed the Calcutta High Court's decision to initiate a CBI probe into the case.

''We are continuing our agitation at RIMS to show solidarity with fellow associations in other states,'' said Ankit Kumar, president of the Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) at RIMS. The body of the woman doctor was discovered in a seminar hall at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, and a civic volunteer was arrested the following day in connection with the crime. The protesting doctors are calling for a central law to ensure the safety and security of doctors at workplaces, along with the installation of security cameras across medical colleges and hospitals in Jharkhand where emergency services are provided. ''Special security measures should be implemented for women doctors during night shifts or late hours,'' Kumar added.

The RIMS authorities have assured the agitating doctors that they would propose the establishment of two police posts and the installation of 1,200 CCTV cameras on campus. Although outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries might be impacted by the protest, emergency services will remain operational with additional doctors deployed to ensure patient care. The authority noted that OPD services were provided to 271 patients, and inpatient department (IPD) services were extended to 149 on Tuesday.

(With inputs from agencies.)