Junior Doctors Protest Rape and Murder of Woman Doctor

Junior doctors at RIMS in Ranchi initiated a 'pen-down' agitation, boycotting OPD services to protest the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata. The doctors demand a CBI probe and enhanced workplace safety. Emergency services remain unaffected. Other medical institutes also plan to hold candlelight vigils.

Junior doctors at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi launched a 'pen-down' agitation on Tuesday, halting OPD services and elective surgeries to protest the rape and murder of a woman doctor at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Despite the agitation, the doctors continued to provide emergency services, ensuring that urgent medical needs were met. The protesting doctors are calling for a CBI investigation into the heinous crime and are pressing for improved safety measures for doctors at their workplaces.

Approximately 200 doctors have joined the protest, gaining support from senior resident doctors. Ankit Kumar, president of the Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) at RIMS, emphasized that emergency services are exempt from the boycott to avoid patient suffering. Slogans were raised on the RIMS campus, condemning the incident.

Junior and senior residents from various medical colleges, including MGM Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur and others in Dhanbad, Dumka, Hazaribag, and Palamu, have announced plans for a candlelight vigil on Tuesday evening. Dr. Raghvendra, state secretary of the IMA Junior Doctors Network, stated that further actions, including possibly joining the ceasework protest, will be considered following the vigil.

(With inputs from agencies.)