'Improve Safety of Doctors': OPD Services Hit Nationwide as Stir Over Kolkata Rape-Murder Continues

Kolkata: As protest over the death of 31-year-old trainee doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata swelled, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has announced a nationwide shutdown of OPD services from August 13.

This comes four das after the incident came to light. For the unversed, a semi-naked body of the doctor was recovered at city Hospital in on August 9. The postgraduate medical student was found dead at the seminar hall the hospital.

Doctors Demand CBI Probe, Set August 14 Deadline 

The agitating doctors demanded a CBI probe into the rape and murder of the woman doctor in Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. The agitating doctors on Tuesday set a deadline of August 14 for the Kolkata Police to complete their investigation. The protest badly affected healthcare services as long queues of patients were seen at out-patient departments (OPDs) of many government hospitals in Bengal since early Tuesday morning as senior doctors were substituting their junior counterparts to address the rush. Similar scenarios were witnessed in other states also.

As anger mounted over the incident across the country, medical students went on a nationwide strike on Monday (August 12). Additionally, the FORDA (Federation of Resident Doctors Association) on Monday wrote a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda where it stated that it would halt its elective services and put forward five crucial demands including increasing safety and security protocols for healthy workers.  

"After call from @FordaIndia , All 10 Government Hospitals’ RDA of Delhi are on strike from today. Resident Doctors of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu are also on strike from today. All other state RDAs will join by today," said Dr Meet Ghonia, Secretary, FORDA India.

Meanwhile, all resident doctors have announced that all optional services will be stopped in hospital across Maharashtra from today while all emergency services will continue as usual. 

Reports suggested that the victim had over 11 injury marks on her body. According to the autopsy report, “There was bleeding from both her eyes and mouth and injuries over the face. The victim was also bleeding from her private parts. She also has injuries in her belly, left leg... neck, in her right hand, ring finger and... lips.”  

Meanwhile, the IMA has asked the health ministry to reconsider introducing the Draft Legislation of "Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of violence and damage to property) Bill 2019' in Parliament with appropriate amendments.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, after meeting the parents of the deceased on Monday, set a deadline of August 18 for Kolkata Police to crack the case, failing which she said she would hand over the matter to the CBI.

Police on Saturday arrested a civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the crime. The Bengal government has cancelled the leaves of all senior doctors to handle the influx of patients, mostly in the OPDs.

How Police Identified Rape-Murder Accused

The arrested accused in Kolkata trainee doctor rape and murder case had left behind a torn part of the Bluetooth earphone at the crime scene, leading to his arrest, according to media reports.

For the unversed, a semi-naked body of a woman trainee doctor was recovered at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The postgraduate medical student was found dead at the seminar hall the hospital.

The recovery of his gadget turned out to be the main evidence against him. Additionally, a CCTV footage also located him at the crime scene at the likely time of occurrence. According to sources, the accused was seen entering the hospital at around 4am. He was also spotted interrogating the police in CCTV footage.

Media reports stated that the accused was seen wearing the earphones while entering the hospital. However, CCTV footage revealed that it was missing when he came out of the hospital, proving a crucial lead in the case.

Reports suggested that investigating officers recovered the torn part of the earphone which was found at the crime scene and were able to establish its connection with the suspect, helping them crack the case.

Roy was arrested on Saturday and remanded to 14-day police custody. He has been charged under Sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused appeared before Sealdah Court, which has remanded him to police custody until August 23.