SHIMLA/CHANDIGARH; The brutal rape and murder of a senior resident doctor at Kolkata's K.G. Kar Medical College has kicked up a nationwide firestorm of protests.
Leading the charge, Professor Vivek Lal, Director of PGI Chandigarh, declared that nothing short of the death penalty for the culprits will satisfy the medical fraternity.
Dr Lal condemned the heinous crime and called for the death penalty for the rapists involved. "These rapists must be hanged. Until that happens, we must continue this movement with unwavering determination".
"This is a blot on the nation's conscience, and the only way to redeem ourselves is by ensuring these criminals are sent to the gallows," Dr. Lal declared passionately.
He further emphasized the unity of the medical community, stating, "I'm very happy that all of us are in this together. We will remain in it together until justice is served."
Meanwhile, IMA National President Dr. KV Ashokan has sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging immediate action to address the concerns of the medical community.
The IMA demands the declaration of hospitals as safe zones with robust security measures and a comprehensive settlement of the working and living conditions of resident doctors.
"We stand united in our mission to ensure the safety and security of all healthcare professionals. The Indian Medical Association has given a call for the withdrawal of non-essential services until our demands are met," Dr. Ashokan asserted.
As the nation grapples with this collective outrage, the medical fraternity's unwavering stand sends a clear message: justice must be swift and uncompromising.
In an unprecedented show of unity, the Indian Medical Association, United Front of Doctor Association, Himachal Pradesh Medical Officer Association, Resident Doctor Associations, FORDA, and countless other medical bodies have come together in protest.
in Himachal Pradesh OPDs services were disrupted in IGMC Shimla, GMC Tanda, DD hospital Shinla, Ner Chowk Hamirpur and all the district hospitals due to the strike.
Their clarion call is: the medical community will not tolerate such heinous acts, and those responsible must be brought to justice without delay.
The outrage has led to widespread disruption in OPD services today, with doctors, senior faculty members, and medical staff joining protests across the country.
Patients in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, and beyond were left in the lurch as healthcare services came to a standstill.
The medical fraternity is not just demanding justice but also a CBI probe and the fast-tracking of the case. They compare this incident to the infamous Nirbhaya case, calling it "Nirbhaya 2.0," and insist that the culprits must face the gallows.
Dr. Laksya Mittal, National President of the United Doctors Front Association criticized the government for not acting swiftly enough to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The National Medical Commission has responded by urging all hospitals and medical colleges nationwide to ramp up security measures and report back on the actions taken to protect medical professionals.
In a show of solidarity, Shimla Collective, an NGO led by former Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar, has joined the doctors in demanding justice for the victim and her family.
It is not the anger of medical community, but the entire country in shock. They have resolved that they will not rest until justice is served.
