The uproar over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata continues on Friday with the Indian Medical Association announcing a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services from 6 am on Saturday.
Various political parties have joined the protest with BJP's women's wing planning to take out a candlelight rally to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's residence demanding her resignation. The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) has also called for a 12-hour general strike in West Bengal on Friday.
The IMA has announced that essential services will be maintained and casualty wards operational, the Out-patient departments (OPD) will not function. The doctors will not conduct elective surgeries.
A statement by the body said the decision is to protest against the brutal crime at the R G Kar Medical College and subsequent hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of Independence Day. "The Indian Medical Association declares nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine from 6 am on Saturday 17.08.2024 to 6 am Sunday 18.08.2024 for 24 hours," the statement said.
The doctors' body also called on authorities to provide safety for doctors inside hospitals and campuses since doctors, especially women, are vulnerable to violence because of the nature of the profession. "Both physical assaults and crimes are a result of indifference and insensitivity of the authorities concerned to the needs of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers," it said.
#WATCH | RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder incident | Actors from the Bengali film and television industry join the doctors protesting at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. pic.twitter.com/HYPVjwYmXS
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2024
CBI digs accused's mobile records
The CBI team probing the murder on Thursday visited the residence of the victim's home as part of the investigation. An official told PTI that they probed the family about the time they received the call from the hospital which informed them about the death of their daughter.
The officials have also asked the family about the victim's friends and on whether she faced any issues at the hospital where she was a postgraduate trainee doctor.
"The CBI also interrogated five doctors of the hospital, its former medical superintendent-cum-vice-principal (MSVP), principal and the head of the Chest Department where the victim's body was found," the official added. The probe has also covered the intern doctors, nurses and others who were with the victim on the fateful night.
Meanwhile, the officials are investigating the details of the accused's phone details, including call detail record and mobile tower location. The civic volunteer was arrested after the victim's body was found on Friday. "We are also looking into data consumed by his mobile to ascertain whether he made any video or internet voice calls," the officer said.
