Kolkata Doctor Rape and Murder Case Live Updates: As doctors unite for nationwide strike, health ministry announces committee to ensure safety measures:
Kolkata Doctor Rape Case, IMA Nationwide Strike Live, August 17: The 24-hour nationwide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in protest against the rape and murder of the woman doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, began at 6 am this morning and will go on till 6 am Sunday (August 18). Meanwhile, after a meeting with the IMA and other doctors’ associations, the union health ministry has announced its decision to form a committee which shall suggest measures to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals in the country.
What stays open/what’s closed in IMA’s nationwide strike? The strike involves a 24-hour withdrawal of non-emergency health services beginning till 6 am tomorrow. The routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all the sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing service, as per the IMA. However, all essential services will be maintained and casualties will be manned, the body said in its statement. Calling it a “movement for safety,” the IMA’s National President Dr Asokan spoke about the overwhelming response from doctors across the country in standing “united against the injustice”. He also said the medical body will write to the prime minister and is expecting a gesture from the government as this is an issue concerning the safety of women.
What is the status of the probe? A CBI team is probing the case after it was transferred from the Kolkata Police by the Calcutta High Court on August 13. So far, it’s been found that the wife of Sanjay Roy, the man accused of raping and killing the doctor had lodged a complaint at Khalighat police station. His wife had alleged that he had assaulted her. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed a rally on Friday and said that deliberate attempts are being made to hide the truth by circulating fake news on social media. “CPI(M), http://BJP vandalised RG Kar hospital to destroy evidence of crime…We want the truth to come out, but some quarters peddling lies to mislead people…Nexus of Left, BJP should be exposed, “she said leading a march seeking death penalty for the main accused.
credit:indianexpress