Kolkata doctors defy court to continue strike over rape, murder of colleague

Junior doctors in Kolkata are continuing their strike despite a Supreme Court order to return to work, protesting the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor and colleague at a state-run hospital.

The tragedy, which occurred on August 9, has ignited national outrage, with doctors demanding justice and security improvements in the healthcare system.

The accused, a hospital volunteer, is currently under investigation by a federal agency. While protests across India have waned, Kolkata remains the epicenter of resistance, with doctors staging sit-ins outside the state’s health department headquarters. The protesters have outlined five key demands, including justice for the victim, accountability for senior police officials, and enhanced security for healthcare workers.

“We are providing healthcare through telemedicine from the protest sites,” said Dr. Amrita Bhattacharya of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front. “They can’t replace the facilities of a hospital, and we are not even claiming that, but we are there to treat patients.”

The doctors have refused to comply with the Supreme Court’s deadline to return to work, which passed on Tuesday evening, while emergency services continue through senior doctors and remote consultations. Protesters are demanding that their negotiations with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee be broadcast live on television—a request authorities declined.

The government of West Bengal, led by the Trinamool Congress, has been criticized for its handling of the case. Local courts have questioned the administration and police for alleged lapses, though officials have denied any negligence. The state government has reported that 23 people have died due to lack of access to medical services during the strike, a claim that has drawn attention on local media and social platforms.

However, doctors have maintained that critical care services remain available. “Senior doctors are putting in all the effort they can,” Dr. Bhattacharya emphasized.

As the strike enters its second month, the protests have evolved into a broader movement. According to *The Indian Express*, over 300 rallies have taken place in Kolkata, many of them organized by women in late-night gatherings. The protests have often turned into political flashpoints, with police clashing with demonstrators, although the doctors insist that the strike remains politically neutral.

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“We are not allied with any political party or ideology,” said Dr. Sumantra Dey, another leader of the protest. He explained that while participants come from various political backgrounds, the focus remains on the core demands of justice and safety. “This is a united front,” he added, using a football analogy to explain the solidarity of the movement: “We might be Barcelona, we might be Manchester United, but here we are playing for India.”

Many protesters have carried banners and posters calling for justice under the name “Abhaya,” meaning fearless, to honor the victim, as Indian law prohibits revealing the identities of sexual crime victims. The gruesome murder has deeply shaken the medical community, with many doctors fearful for their own safety at work.

Dr. Bhattacharya captured the sense of vulnerability shared by her colleagues, recalling how her mother would check on her when she traveled to work. “If I have reached the hospital, then I am fine. This is how we were conditioned to think,” she said. “So how can we go back to work knowing that people who have murdered our colleague might be roaming around free just next to us?”

As the strike continues, pressure mounts on the West Bengal government to find a resolution, with both the safety of healthcare workers and the broader public interest hanging in the balance.