A scuffle broke out between police and Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) SUCI (C) in Hazra here on Friday when the latter were protesting after calling for a 12-hour general strike in the state in solidarity with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.
The SUCI (C) supporters were detained in Kolkata. SUCI (C) supporters were then arrested and taken to Lalbazar Police station in the city after they staged a protest at Hazra Intersection. Meanwhile, Doctors and representatives of various medical organisations staged protests at various locations in the country. Medical services in Rajasthan were derailed due to outrage over the horrific incident at RG Kar Medical College. Resident doctors of Sawai Man Singh Hospital (SMS) Medical College have announced a complete shutdown. Resident doctors are scheduled to take out a rally from Dhanvantari OPD in SMS Medical College to Statue Circle in Jaipur. Apart from OPD and ICU, the shutdown has had a wide impact on all kinds of emergency services in SMS. Most of the routine operations have been postponed in SMS for the last 5 to 6 days. Serving doctors also boycotted work for one hour on Friday. In Patna, protesting doctors at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science said that until justice is given, services will not be provided. "Emergency facilities have also been closed since late last night and tomorrow we will also take out a march across the country. The emergency services will also remain closed as the main accused has not been caught yet and we want justice," doctors said. The doctors demanded that the Central Protection Act should be implemented immediately. "What happened with the RG Kar College trainee doctor can happen to us too. Today, this is the incident of Bengal. It will happen to us tomorrow too and that is why we are demanding justice from the government and the accused should be given strict punishment and the Central Protection Act should be implemented immediately," doctors further said. In AIIMS Delhi, Dr Kumar Kartikay said, "We want to peacefully put forward our demands. We demand a Central Protection Act for healthcare workers. Till we do not get a written assurance, we will continue our strike... We are expecting around 3000-5000 people at Nirman Bhawan today from all the medical colleges in Delhi... We will not step back or sit quietly till we get an assurance that action will be taken." Junior doctors and medical students at AIIMS Mangalagiri in Andhra Pradesh staged a protest and performed a street play to protest against the horrific incident. Resident Doctor at AIIMS Mangalagiri, Dr Sreeja said, "On the eve of Independence Day, the protesting doctors at RG Kar faced mob attacks and also police attacks. The hospital was vandalised and evidence was erased. In condemnation of this, we are protesting here. It's not just a crime against doctors. It's a crime against women and humanity. We request the CBI to conduct a transparent investigation. The victim's family should receive adequate compensation. We also demand a Central Protection Act for all healthcare workers." On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, which has led to nationwide strikes and protests by the medical fraternity. (ANI)
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