Indian Doctors Stage Nationwide Strike Over Colleague’s Tragic Rape and Murder

Doctors across India have launched a nationwide strike in response to the horrific rape and murder of a female colleague in Kolkata, West Bengal. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country’s largest association of doctors, announced that all non-essential hospital services would be suspended on Saturday as part of the protest.

The IMA condemned the brutal killing, calling it a “crime of barbaric scale due to the lack of safe spaces for women.” The organization is urging the public to support their “struggle for justice” and calling for better protection for women across the nation.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage, leading to intensified protests in recent days, especially after a mob vandalized the hospital where the attack occurred.

In its statement, the IMA clarified that emergency and casualty services would continue during the 24-hour strike. R. V. Asokan, the association’s president, expressed deep concern over the growing violence against doctors, noting that this particular incident highlights the alarming lack of safety for medical professionals, even in major cities.

Earlier this week, doctors at several government hospitals announced they would indefinitely halt elective procedures, further escalating the protest and demanding stronger measures to ensure their safety and justice for their slain colleague.