The doctor had just completed a 36-hour shift and had gone to the seminar hall to study, where her body was discovered.
Published Aug 11, 2024 | 8:04 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 26, 2024 | 2:24 PM
People protesting brutal murder of Kolkata doctor
After a woman doctor pursuing a postgraduate degree in Respiratory Medicine was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the seminar hall of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, doctors across the country have begun protesting against the brutal murder and suspected sexual assault. Some female doctors from Telangana have also voiced concerns about the safety issues they face during night shifts.
The doctor in Kolkata was found half-naked with multiple injury marks, leading to suspicions of rape and murder. She had just completed a 36-hour shift and had gone to the seminar hall to study, where her body was discovered the next morning by hospital staff. While her death has been declared a murder, sexual assault hasn’t been.
The police inquest report detailed multiple injuries, including bleeding in several parts of her body as well as facial wounds. On 10 August, a suspect named Sanjoy Roy was arrested.
Roy, reportedly an outsider with frequent access to the hospital, was remanded to police custody for 14 days as the investigation continues. The Kolkata police have since formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the suspicious death and are investigating whether Roy had any accomplices.
The initial police inquest report revealed that the deceased doctor was found lying on a blue mattress in a half-naked condition, with her jeans and undergarments beside her. A hair clip and a pair of broken spectacles were also discovered nearby.
The deceased doctor’s mother told the media that her daughter was alone in the seminar hall that night, which lacked CCTV surveillance. In response to the incident, doctors across India have called for a nationwide protest and demanded the intervention of the Prime Minister.
“I am a surgeon at one of the top medical colleges in Hyderabad. As a junior doctor, I frequently handle patients during night shifts, especially those involved in accidents. Many of these cases involve not just the patients but also their intoxicated relatives or acquaintances who bring them in,” a junior doctor from a government Hyderabad told South First.
“You can often smell the alcohol on them, even from a distance. I usually try to avoid interacting with these relatives, but they often come in groups and are not in a state to listen. So, we have to create a safety net for ourselves,” she explained.
She added that there have been instances where she had to shout at these people to get out of the ward, call a colleague for help, or ask a ward boy to remove them. “Despite these precautions, I always feel unsafe. If I have a male colleague in the room, I signal him to handle these situations. Sometimes, I start attending to the patient while the ward boy deals with the relatives,” she continued.
She also recalled one instance where she had to rush out of the ward. “One time, there was no one else in the ward, and I was alone when four or five relatives of an accident victim started shouting at me. One of them got uncomfortably close, just inches from my face. I had to physically push him away and rush outside.”
She pointed out that it’s a common practice across the country for PG doctors to work 36-hour shifts. “We have to live on hospital premises, either in the resting room or sometimes in the wards to take a break. If there isn’t proper security, anything can happen to us,” she added.
A resident surgeon working in rural Telangana told South First that many women encounter unsafe and unreliable public transportation options during late hours, increasing their vulnerability while commuting to and from work. Night shifts often mean fewer colleagues are present, leading to a sense of isolation that can increase the risk of harassment or other forms of violence.
“If I finish work late at night, I have to travel a few kilometres by myself to get home. So I decided to stay on the hospital premises because I can’t take risks with my safety,” she said.
She added that hospitals often lack sufficient security staff during night shifts, making it difficult for female doctors to manage unruly visitors or handle emergencies without immediate backup. Certain areas of hospitals, such as parking lots or pathways to dormitories, may be poorly lit or isolated, increasing the risk of harassment or assault when moving around the hospital at night.
“In some hospitals, critical areas like wards, corridors, or seminar halls lack CCTV surveillance, leaving women doctors vulnerable to incidents without any evidence or recourse. Night shifts also often involve handling high-stress cases with fewer staff, making it harder for female doctors to stay vigilant about their own safety while managing patient care,” she concluded.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) issued a strong statement in response to the murder of the trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, expressing deep shock and outrage. Here are the key points from their statement:
The IMA condemned the brutal murder of the Kolkata doctor, emphasising that if safety cannot be ensured in educational institutions, it reflects the incompetence of the administration.
The association highlighted that the incident indicates a prevailing sense of anarchy and insecurity on campus, demanding a thorough and transparent investigation into the crime.
The IMA set a 48-hour ultimatum for authorities to act decisively in apprehending the culprits, warning that failure to do so would compel the association to initiate nationwide protests.
They called for urgent measures to enhance the safety of medical professionals, particularly women, in their workplaces, and expressed solidarity with the victim’s family and colleagues.
Press Release pic.twitter.com/vtQ8YKk40I
— Indian Medical Association (@IMAIndiaOrg) August 10, 2024
Meanwhile Telangana’s Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) said that the entire medical fraternity mourns the loss of this promising young doctor and strongly condemns the conditions that allowed such an atrocity to take place.
The increasing dangers faced by doctors, particularly women, in their workplaces are alarming, as highlighted by this tragedy and the recent stabbing of a young doctor in Kerala.
In light of these events, Telangana JUDA demands:
Additionally, Andhra Pradesh JUDA also condemned the brutal murder of the doctor and demanded that officials find people responsible for the doctor’s death within the next 24 hours. It has also asked all medical colleges in the state to conduct a candlelight vigil on 12 August, to express solidarity.
(Edited by Neena)
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