Indian Doctors Resume Strike Over Colleague’s Rape and Murder

Indian doctors in Kolkata have resumed their strike in protest of the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee medic at a government hospital in August, Dawn reported yesterday.

Despite briefly returning to work in emergency departments, the doctors decided to halt services again due to unmet demands for improved hospital safety measures, including better lighting and CCTV. Union spokesman Aniket Mahato criticized the West Bengal government for failing to ensure workplace safety.

The discovery of the medic’s body reignited nationwide outrage over violence against women, prompting widespread protests involving tens of thousands of citizens. One suspect has been detained, but the government faces backlash for its investigation handling, leading to the dismissal of the city’s police chief and top health officials. In response to the incident, India’s Supreme Court has established a national task force to enhance security for healthcare workers, highlighting the shocking nature of the crime reminiscent of the 2012 Delhi gang rape case.