Doctors Announce Nationwide 'Bhookh Hadtaal' on October 9, Demand Justice for RG Kar Victim

Kolkata: It has been two months since the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, in the seminar room of the hospital; doctors' protest continue and as junior doctors in Kolkata sit for a ‘fast-unto-death’, doctors' association FAIMA has called for a nationwide hunger strike on Wednesday.

Kolkata Rape and Murder Case: Doctors Call for Nationwide Hunger Strike

The doctors' association held a meeting on Monday and announced that the hunger strike will begin on Wednesday, which will be two months from the day the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College in West Bengal happened on August 9.

"We have been in close contact with the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front and are united in our stance," said Suvrankar Datta, President of FAIMA. He further added, “After extensive deliberation, we have decided to organise a nationwide hunger strike in solidarity with our colleagues in West Bengal.” 

Datta also emphasised that the hunger strike is intended to amplify the voices of the junior doctors who have been on strike for weeks, advocating for better working conditions, enhanced safety protocols, and other essential reforms.

RG Kar Doctors Protest: Fast-Unto-Death

Agitating junior doctors in West Bengal continued their fast-unto-death for the third consecutive day on Monday, demanding justice for the rape and murder of a woman medic of the RG Kar hospital and workplace safety even as the state government remained silent to address their issues.

Six junior medics have been on the fast-unto-death since Saturday evening and later one more joined them. Senior members of the Joint Platform of Doctors in West Bengal were mulling the option of joining the fast to express solidarity with the junior medics.

"Our fast-unto-death is on. We have not received any message from the state government. We will continue the protest until all our demands are met. No external pressure will be able to move us from our path of protest seeking justice for our deceased sister... It's now or never," Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor, told PTI.

Mahato of RG Kar hospital joined Snigdha Hazra, Tanaya Panja and Anustup Mukhopadhyay of Kolkata medical college, Arnab Mukhopadhyay of SSKM hospital, Pulastha Acharya of NRS medical college and Sayantani Ghosh Hazra of KPC medical college for the fast-unto-death.

Two senior woman doctors -- Srabani Maitra and Srabani Chakraborty -- started a 24-hour fast at the protest site as a mark of solidarity with the junior medics. "We have joined them as a mark of our support and solidarity towards the young doctors. Moreover, 10-13 other senior doctors will join them. They will also fast for the next 24 hours," Mitra said.

Both Mitra and Chakraborty are former students of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. "We are checking up health parameters of those who are on an indefinite fast. They have been fasting for over 36 hours. This may hamper their health and we do not want to take any chance. The West Bengal government will be held responsible in case of any fatality," one of the agitating doctors told PTI.

(Inputs from PTI)