In a powerful display of solidarity, Indian doctors across the country have gone on a nationwide strike to demand justice for their colleague who was brutally raped and murdered in a Kolkata hospital.
The 31-year-old doctor’s body was found in the hospital’s seminar hall, where she had gone to rest during a 36-hour shift.
The strike, led by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), has disrupted outpatient services in government hospitals across several states, with many medical unions backing the protests.
Doctors are demanding the implementation of the Central Protection Act to protect healthcare workers from violence and overhaul the working and living conditions of resident doctors.
The gruesome nature of the attack has sparked widespread outrage, with many drawing comparisons to the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a Delhi bus.
READ MORE: Brazil, Colombia Demand Fresh Elections Amidst Disputes In Maduro’s Victory
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demanded swift punishment for those who commit such “monstrous” deeds against women.
The strike has garnered massive support, with thousands of doctors and ordinary Indians joining protests across the country, holding candle-lit vigils, and demanding action against the perpetrators.
The IMA has called the killing “barbaric” and emphasized the need for a thorough overhaul of the working and living conditions of resident doctors.
As the protests continue, the government faces mounting pressure to address the chronic issue of violence against women and ensure the safety and security of healthcare workers.
