The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued a strong statement demanding immediate action regarding the tragic incident involving the alleged rape and murder of a second-year postgraduate resident doctor in Kolkata. The IMA has given authorities a strict 48-hour deadline to meet their demands, warning that if these demands are not met, they will organize protests across the country.
The medical community is deeply shocked and saddened by this horrific crime. The IMA expressed its outrage, saying, “The entire medical fraternity of India is shocked beyond words at this brutal murder.” The association condemned the circumstances that allowed such a terrible crime to occur on a medical campus, stating, “This crime is an index of the anarchy and insecurity prevailing on the campus.”
The young doctor, who was training in the department of chest medicine, was found in a tragic condition on Friday morning. Her body was discovered in a seminar hall at R.G. Kar Medical College in a semi-naked state. The autopsy report revealed that the medical student had been sexually assaulted before being strangled and smothered to death.
The details of her injuries are heart-breaking. According to the autopsy, “There was bleeding from both her eyes and mouth, injuries over the face and nail. The victim was also bleeding from her private parts. She also has injuries in her belly, left leg… neck, in her right hand, ring finger and… lips.” These harrowing details have further intensified the demand for swift justice.
In response to this tragedy, the IMA has outlined three main demands. First, they are calling for a thorough and unbiased investigation into the case. Second, they are demanding a comprehensive inquiry into the conditions that allowed this crime to happen. Finally, they are insisting on urgent measures to improve the safety and security of doctors, especially women, in their workplaces.
The IMA has given the authorities 48 hours to take action. If the perpetrators are not arrested and the demands are not met, the IMA warns that they will lead nationwide protests. The medical community is prepared to take strong action to ensure justice is served.
The police have already arrested one person in connection with the sexual assault and murder of the trainee doctor. A city court has ordered that the accused, who is an outsider, be held in police custody for 14 days. The accused is facing serious charges under sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the BNS.
Meanwhile, in Kolkata, members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] have also staged a rally demanding justice for the murdered doctor. A CPI(M) leader expressed the fear that has gripped the city, stating, “The city which we used to call ‘City of Joy’ has now become ‘City of Bhay’ (City of Fear). Here, even a doctor is not safe.” He also called for a judicial inquiry into the matter.
The call for justice is growing louder, and the next 48 hours will be crucial in determining the course of action.
