Junior Doctors and Interns Unite to Protest Against RG Kar Rape Case

On 16 August, hundreds of interns and junior doctors gathered at Silchar Medical College and Hospital to protest against the rape and murder of Dr. Moumita Debnath, occurred at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last week. The protest aimed to shed light on the pervasive issue of sexual violence and advocate for systematic changes to protect and support survivors.

In conversations with the protestors, the main focus was on opposing the sexual harassment faced particularly by women. They demanded a safer environment and installation of CCTV cameras in their workplaces.

For the safety of all doctors, both female and male, the protestors called for strict security measures that should be ingrained in everyone’s mindset. Overall, they strongly urged all citizens to come forward and speak out about this heinous incident to ensure a safe environment.

Moreover, the protestors emphasized the popular campaign by PM Modi, ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, and questioned the ongoing efforts to protect the girls in our society.

They also highlighted the need for immediate action regarding the ongoing protest for the crime that occurred a couple of days ago in Kolkata.

Dr. Moumita Debnath, was a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor. Her dead body was discovered on the morning of 9 August in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Her body was discovered in a semi-nude state, with visible injuries and marks, indicating that she was sexually assaulted before being murdered.

The incident has sparked outrage across the nation, leading to widespread protests, particularly by junior doctors and medical students, who have halted work to demand justice. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) also announced the closure of non-essential medical services for two days on 17 and 18 August to support the cause.