Kolkata, often celebrated as the City of Joy, is reeling from a brutal incident that has crushed its sense of safety.

The recent penetrative sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor on night duty at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital have flashed rage across the city, with many, particularly women, voicing their shock and fear.

The brutal crime has left the people of Kolkata in a state of incredulity. As reported by The Hindu, residents are grappling with the chilling reality that if a doctor in a top government hospital can be sexually assaulted and killed while on duty, no one is truly safe.

The incident has drawn comparisons to the infamous Nirbhaya case, a bleak reminder of the vulnerability of women in India.

Ishita Mukhopadhyay, a Professor of Economics at the University of Calcutta, expressed her anger, stating, “We cannot imagine such barbarity in the heart of the city. If a woman doctor is unsafe within hospital premises, which woman is safe? Police and the ruling political party are trying to hush up the case, it seems, which makes our blood boil. It is a black day for women in the state and country.”

The fear and frustration have resonated beyond the medical community, affecting those who recently moved to the city.

Pragya Choudhary, a 24-year-old who relocated to Kolkata only five months ago for a job in a Central government department, shared her shock and concern.

When interviewed by The Hindu, she reflected on how she had previously felt safe in the city.

“The mysterious death of a junior doctor inside the premises of a reputed medical institute is worrisome and tragic. The safety of women in the workplace and beyond should be unflinching. Stringent measures should be taken to prevent laxity in future.”

For many, this incident has broken the perception of Kolkata as a safe city for women.

Susmita Das, a post-doctoral research fellow who has lived in various cities across India and abroad, including Chennai and Chicago, remarked that Kolkata was the safest place she had lived and worked in until now.

“I could say until yesterday that Kolkata was the safest place I have lived and worked. After this incident has come to light, I am not so sure. Not only is it chilling that the attack took place while the doctor was on duty and at her workplace, but it is also absolutely frightening that this happened at a hospital, the one place every being turns to for safety and care,” she said in an interview.

The medical community, already burdened by the challenges of working in government hospitals, is particularly shaken.

According to a post-graduate medical student who wished to remain anonymous, the working conditions in these hospitals are far from ideal, and now they have been exposed to a new level of danger.

“It’s a sorry state of affairs throughout Bengal, with no designated doctors’ duty room, let alone a functional hygienic washroom. We have never been provided safety in what we call our second home,” she lamented.

Another student enrolled in the MD (Doctor of Medicine) programme added that incidents like this have occurred in other medical colleges, but they rarely receive attention.

“Similar incidents have happened in other medical colleges, but nobody raises their voice. If they do, it is not reported. If it is reported, then facts are distorted, it takes a political angle, and the actual matter is suppressed,” she said, highlighting a worrying trend of silence and suppression.

The tragedy has also knocked a chord with those who no longer live in Kolkata but still have strong ties to the city.

Sreelekha Maitra, an advertising professional based in Mumbai, expressed her dismay at how her hometown was portrayed in the aftermath of this incident.

“The gruesome incident throws my hometown in a poor light where women’s safety is concerned. It also gives a dismal picture of education and general affairs. Living in Mumbai, we take safety for granted,” she said during her visit to Kolkata.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued a stern ultimatum, demanding swift action after this terrifying incident.

They released a statement on Saturday, urging authorities to conduct an “impartial investigation” and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

The association emphasized the urgency of the situation, setting a 48-hour deadline for action.

The IMA warned that they would initiate nationwide protests if their demands were not met within this timeframe.

“We demand that the authorities act with precision and within 48 hours, failing which IMA will be constrained to initiate nationwide action. A fair, transparent, and time-sensitive criminal investigation is in order. An ultimatum of two days is given to arrest the culprits; otherwise, IMA will take nationwide protests,” the statement read.

The association also highlighted the critical need for enhanced safety measures for doctors, particularly women, within hospitals and medical campuses.

“The safety and security of doctors inside hospitals and campuses are paramount, and it is the responsibility of the authorities to ensure this,” the IMA asserted, reflecting the growing concern among healthcare professionals about their safety at work.

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) echoed this call for action, demanding immediate intervention.

In a letter addressed to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, FORDA urged the government to take decisive steps to address the safety concerns of doctors.

The organization warned that if their demands were not met within 24 hours, they would consider escalating their actions, potentially leading to the nationwide shutdown of hospital services.

Last modified: August 11, 2024