Medics March for Justice: Candlelight Vigil in Response to Trainee Doctor's Tragedy

Hundreds of medics protested in Delhi against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. They demanded a central law to protect healthcare personnel. The strike disrupted non-emergency services in major hospitals. The Union health ministry has promised a committee to ensure medics' safety, but doctors remain skeptical.

Hundreds of medics, including doctors and resident doctors, marched in Delhi on Saturday, protesting the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata last week. The demonstrators, carrying placards reading 'I don't want to be the next victim,' started their march from Lady Hardinge Medical College.

The protest, aimed at pressing for a central law to protect healthcare personnel from violence, included a 25-minute sit-in at Connaught Place before moving to Jantar Mantar for a candlelight vigil. Non-emergency services in major hospitals like AIIMS and Safdarjung were disrupted.

The Union health ministry announced the formation of a committee to suggest safety measures for healthcare professionals. However, AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association expressed skepticism, citing previous committees' ineffectiveness, and vowed to continue the strike until their demands are met.

(With inputs from agencies.)