The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) reignited its strike on Thursday, responding to the violent vandalism at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a trainee doctor’s brutal rape and murder recently shocked the nation. This decision came just hours after the hospital, already a focal point of intense protests, was targeted by a mob that damaged hospital property and disrupted the ongoing demonstrations.
Initially, FORDA had suspended its protests on August 13, following discussions with Union Health Minister JP Nadda in New Delhi. However, the resurgence of violence and the government’s failure to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals have reignited the strike. “We strongly condemn the Union Ministry and state government for their failure to honour their commitments and ensure the safety of healthcare professionals during this crisis. Given the gravity of recent developments and the overwhelming call for justice, we have decided to resume the strike, effective immediately,” FORDA stated.
The association emphasized that it is coordinating with all stakeholders, including Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDAs), to formulate a comprehensive action plan in response to the escalating situation. The reinstatement of the strike underscores the deep frustration and anger within the medical community, which feels betrayed by the government’s inability to protect its members.
The violence at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital unfolded in the early hours of Thursday during a protest march organized by women in solidarity with the victim. A group of individuals stormed the hospital, causing extensive damage to the emergency ward, nursing station, medicine store, and outpatient department. They also destroyed CCTV cameras throughout the premises, adding to the chaos. The attack on the hospital, already reeling from the tragic incident, further intensified the atmosphere of fear and unrest.
The mob did not stop at vandalizing hospital property; they also broke barricades, damaged a police vehicle, and overturned several two-wheelers. The situation spiraled out of control to such an extent that even police personnel sought refuge with the hospital’s nurses, unable to contain the aggressive crowd.
Kolkata Police were forced to resort to tear gas and lathi charges to disperse the mob, but not before the violence had already inflicted significant damage. Video footage from the scene showed widespread chaos, with people running for safety as the situation deteriorated rapidly. One nurse, present during the turmoil, reported that the mob attempted to break into the seminar room where the trainee doctor had been murdered—a chilling reminder of the brutality that sparked these nationwide protests.
The nationwide outcry from the medical community began after the trainee doctor was found raped and murdered in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last week. The Calcutta High Court has since transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation, a move seen as necessary to ensure a fair and thorough probe.
In the wake of the tragedy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police has been arrested in connection with the heinous crime, intensifying scrutiny on the local authorities’ role in the incident. As the situation remains tense, additional police personnel have been deployed at the hospital to maintain order and prevent further violence.
Also read: Kolkata Rape And Murder Case, Horrifying Revelations From Autopsy Report
