Madhya Pradesh: Doctors go on indefinite strike across state in protest against Kolkata medical student rape-murder case

Due to the strike, the academic activities, OPDs, ward services, and elective OT services have been suspended. Nonetheless, emergency services, ICUs, emergency procedures, and emergency OT will remain operational.

Doctors protesting at Gandhi Medical College in the state capital Bhopal said that the strike would continue until justice was served.

Doctor Nidhi Gupta told ANI "Our protest is for the safety of women and we are protesting against whatever happened with the doctor in Kolkata. If a woman is not safe at her workplace then where is she safe? We will step out to work and we can't stay at home. We want safety, that is why we are protesting."

"Only OPD and elective OT services are suspended and emergency services are operational. We know that patients should not suffer. The incident that occurred in Kolkata is heart-wrenching. But because of that incident, no other patient suffered the loss of life so we have not suspended emergency services, ICUs; it is operational," she said.

"We demand that a central protection act for doctors should be implemented. Action must be taken against the culprits of the Kolkata medical student's rape and murder and goons attacked doctors," she added.

Spokesperson of the Junior Doctors Association, Bhopal, Deep Gupta, told ANI, "Doctors were silently protesting in Kolkata but goons tried to erase the evidence and manhandled doctors. It is a great-breaking incident. Why is it being done with doctors who demand justice for themselves? Why are efforts being made to save the culprit? All these acts are condemnable. The delay in justice is injustice. We will not tolerate this injustice."

"We want whoever culprits are in the rape and murder of Kolkata doctor, strict action should be taken against them. This protest is not only for the doctors but also for the safety of women," he added.

Doctors at Gwalior's Gajra Raja Medical College also went on an indefinite strike in solidarity with the Kolkata doctor's rape and murder and demanded a CBI inquiry and strict punishment for the culprit.

Dean of Gajra Raja Medical College R K S Dhakad told ANI, "The doctors are on strike with their demands regarding the unfortunate incident that happened in Kolkata. But there is no impact on the health system, all emergency services are operational. If the strike continues for a long time, work will be done according to the orders from the government. At present, adequate medical facilities are continued for the patients arriving here."

Doctors at Ujjain district hospital protested and demanded strict action against the culprits. They also demanded that strong arrangements should be made for the safety of doctors.

Doctor Sapna Sharma told ANI, "I am a woman and a doctor. I can feel the impact of the incident that happened in Kolkata. We don't bother whether it is day or night for the treatment of the patient. But after the Kolkata incident I am getting afraid which should not be. If a doctor fears then it can't save the patient. First, we overcome our fear then we treat the patients."

"So the protest is for the same reason that I don't want to fear. I want to treat my patients without any fear. So I request the government to ensure our safety so that we don't fear. There should be availability of security guards for 24 hours. Hospitals are our second home. Our safety should be ensured so that we can work without fear," she added.

Additionally, junior doctors at Netaji Subhash Chandra Medical College in Jabalpur also went on strike, demanding justice for the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder victim in West Bengal's Kolkata.

The tragic incident occurred on August 9 and it led to widespread outrage and protests. (ANI)