Online Desk: The doctor and paramedic fraternity across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir came together to condemn in strongest terms the recent brutal rape and murder of a female trainee doctor in a hospital in Kolkata and staged protests demanding fair probe into the incident.
According to Kashmir Media Service, all the non-essential and elective services in Government Medical College (GMC) and Associated Hospitals, Jammu, were suspended by resident doctors who are on indefinite strike demanding justice for the victim doctor. Faculty members, nurses and paramedical staff of the Institution also joined the resident doctors and a peaceful protest march was taken out from GMC, Jammu, to Super Speciality Hospital.
Similar protests were also held in other Government and Private Medical Colleges of the territory, including Soura hospital, GMC, Srinagar, and ASCOMS, Jammu. A group of doctors gathered on the GMC, Srinagar campus, holding placards and demanding justice, along with the implementation of the Central Protection Act (CPA) to ensure the safety of doctors. As part of the protest and to press for necessary measures, GMC doctors shut down all Outpatient Departments (OPDs) and suspended routine work.
In a show of solidarity and demand for justice, MBBS students, Faculty and paramedical staff of Government Medical College (GMC) and Associated Hospital, Rajouri, held a peaceful protest and candle march. The protest, held outside GMC Rajouri, saw hundreds of medicos raising slogans of “We want justice” while holding banners that condemned the heinous crime. They emphasized the urgent need for authorities to ensure the safety of medical professionals within hospital premises.
To support the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Dental Association (IDA), Jammu, decided to close all the dental clinics in Jammu province on August 19 (Monday). Dr Vibha Raina, IDA Jammu secretary requested all the dentists of Jammu province to keep their clinics closed for a full day on August 19 in solidarity with IMA.
In the District Hospital and Sub District Hospital of Ramban, doctors and paramedical staff observed a 24 hours strike and staged protest demonstrations. Due to their strike, except emergency services all the routine work including OPD services remained suspended. The protesting doctors and paramedical staff expressed their solidarity with the victim and demanded justice for her.