Thousands Of Indian Doctors Refuse To End Strikes In The Aftermath Of Rape And Murder Cases

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Thousands of Indian junior doctors refused to end protests over the rape and murder of fellow medics.

The strike protests have now disrupted hospital services nearly a week after they launched a nationwide action demanding safer workplaces and rapid criminal investigations.

Doctors across the region staged protests and refused to meet non-emergency patients following the killing of 31-year-old medics on August 9, who police said were raped and murdered in hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata.

A police volunteer was arrested and charged with the crime.

Female activists said the incident highlighted how women in India continue to suffer from sexual violence despite stricter laws imposed after the massive rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012.

The government urged doctors to return to duty and form a committee to suggest measures to increase protection for health professionals.

"Our unlimited cessation of employment and sitting action will continue until our demands are met," said Dr. Aniket Mahata, spokesman for the junior doctors who protested at RG Universities and Kar Medical Hospital, where the incident occurred.

As a form of solidarity with doctors, thousands of supporters of the two biggest football clubs in the state of West Bengal lined up on the streets of Kolkata on Sunday night shouting 'we want justice'.

Groups representing junior doctors in the neighboring state of Odisha, the capital of New Delhi, and in the western state of Gujarat also said their protests would continue.

Gita Gopinath, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, told India's Business Standard daily safety in the workplace is important to increase the women's labor force participation rate in the country, which is 37 percent in the fiscal year 2022-2023.