Kolkata doctor rape murder: Junior doctors at RIMS in Ranchi boycott OPD services, elective surgeries

NEW DELHI: Junior doctors at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi initiated a 'pen-down' agitation, boycotting OPD services and elective surgeries on Tuesday in protest against the rape and murder of a woman doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Despite the protest, emergency services continued at the hospital.
The doctors are demanding a CBI investigation into the incident and are calling for increased safety measures for doctors at the workplace.
Approximately 200 junior doctors have joined the agitation, receiving support from senior resident doctors at RIMS.
"Around 200 doctors have joined the agitation and senior resident doctors have also supported our stir. Our protest excludes emergency services as we do not want any patient in need to suffer," said Ankit Kumar, president of Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) at RIMS.
"Apart from a CBI probe, we also demand the safety of doctors at the workplace," he added.
The doctors raised slogans at the RIMS campus, condemning the tragic incident. Alongside the activities in Ranchi, doctors from other state-run medical colleges and hospitals, including MGM Medical College and Hospital (Jamshedpur), Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (Dhanbad), Phulo Jano Medical College and Hospital (Dumka), Sheikh Bhikari Medical College and Hospital (Hazaribag), and Medinirai Medical College and Hospital (Palamu), have planned a candlelight vigil for Tuesday evening.
Dr. Raghvendra, state secretary of IMA Junior Doctors Network, noted that the final decision on joining the ceasework protest would be made after the candlelight vigil.