Calcutta medical community united after tragic murder of young doctor

Kolkata has come into the spotlight lately not only for its vibrant culture and rich history, but now also for the tragic incident surrounding the murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College. The story began on August 9, 2024, when the lifeless body of the 31-year-old PhD student was discovered, sending shockwaves through the medical community and beyond.

This doctor with a PhD specialising in pulmonology had just finished a grueling 36-hour shift. Just hours before her death, she was seen sharing a meal with her colleagues at around 2am before heading to the seminar room for some much-needed rest. Tragically, her search for refuge turned fatal as she was brutally raped and strangled. The cruelty of the crime was underlined by forensic evidence which showed wounds suggestive of multiple attackers as over 150ml of semen was found, significantly more than would normally be expected from a single person.

Dr KM Abul Hasan of the Junior Doctors' Network of the Indian Medical Association explained the timeline leading up to her death. The search for her began only when she did not return to her ward after her rest period and it took just hours for the shocking news to reach her family. After initially being informed of her alleged suicide, the family was overwhelmed by another wave of agony when they finally saw her disfigured body lying uncovered. The body reportedly bore signs of injuries including an unnatural leg position and severe injuries around the eyes resulting in significant blood loss.

The investigation quickly revealed that Sanjay Roy, a volunteer police officer, was the prime suspect. He was later arrested and confessed to the crime. Eyewitness accounts and video footage showed that he was at the crime scene hours before the incident. His role as a volunteer only added to the horrifying realization of how someone you trusted could commit such heinous acts.

Many of the young doctor's colleagues and fellow students are not only concerned about the loss of one of their own, but also about the increasing violence against medical personnel, especially women. The incident sparked fears about safety in hospitals, especially given recent trends where medical personnel face violence from patients and other external threats. Grieving parents and friends expressed growing distrust of the state police and worried whether their daughter would ever receive justice.

Almost half a month after her tragic death, protests erupted across India expressing solidarity among medical professionals and demanding immediate action. Doctors and medical staff engaged not only in candlelight vigils but also in strikes that affected hospitals across the country. Many facilities turned away patients with non-urgent complaints and focused solely on urgent cases, putting enormous pressure on the already overburdened health system.

Following the riot, the Supreme Court intervened and asked the doctors to return to work, reiterating the message of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud who had stressed that healthcare must take precedence over protests. However, many junior doctors continued their strike insisting on their fight for justice and said they would not return to work until the real culprits faced appropriate consequences.

The protests intensified, culminating in demands for improved security measures in medical facilities. They called for drastic changes to existing laws to protect medical personnel, especially women, from violence. Proposals included classifying hospitals as safe zones due to the irresponsible and brutal acts of violence observed there, and introducing strict security measures similar to those at airports.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has made five urgent demands aimed at protecting the rights and lives of doctors across the country. Its appeals included calls for improved safety protocols, including installation of CCTV and adequate security personnel, changes in working hours for doctors and concrete legal measures to ensure the safety of medical staff.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to intensify its search for truth and investigation, stressing the urgency of the situation. With comprehensive reports sought from the CBI, there is still hope for clarity and closure of this tragic chapter.

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Calcutta medical community united after tragic murder of young doctor

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