Resident doctors at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and its associated hospitals staged a peaceful protest march today, demanding justice for a female doctor who was recently raped and murdered in Kolkata. The protest march, which began at GMC and proceeded to the Super Speciality Hospital (SSH), saw a large turnout of doctors from GMC and its affiliated hospitals.
The doctors, holding placards with messages such as “We Stand in Solidarity with the Victim,” “No Mercy for Rapists,” and “Raise Your Voice Before You Become the Next Victim,” also suspended all non-essential and elective hospital services, including outpatient departments (OPD), operating theaters (OT), and ward services. They are calling for a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the Kolkata incident and improvements in security measures at GMC Jammu.
A resident doctor spoke to the media, expressing concerns over the lack of security, particularly during night shifts, and called for a comprehensive security plan for emergency wards and other hospital areas. The protest was part of a larger movement, with similar demonstrations held at other government medical colleges in the Union Territory. These protests demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the crime, strict punishment for the perpetrators, and nationwide implementation of a Central Protection Act to safeguard medical professionals.
In GMC Rajouri, students held a candlelight march to show solidarity with the victim and her family. Participants carried candles and banners with messages like “We Want Justice” and “Stop Violence Against Women,” urging the government and medical authorities to enhance security measures in hospitals.
Additionally, BJP Mahila Morcha president Sanjita Dogra led a candle march from the BJP Office at Kachhi Chawni to Janana Park, with participants expressing grief and demanding justice. The Bar Association R.S. Pura also condemned the incident through a protest and candlelight procession, with Bar President Rajkamal Thakyal criticizing the brutality of the crime.
The Jammu Doctors Forum organized a candlelight march at Bahu Plaza in solidarity with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), while the Doctors Association Jammu (DAJ) announced a boycott of all OPDs and elective OTs tomorrow to support their colleagues in West Bengal and across India. DAJ president Dr. Balvinder Singh emphasized that such acts of violence are intolerable in a civilized society.
