The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) has called for a 12-hour general strike in Siliguri on Friday, protesting the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College. The strike significantly disrupted daily life, with most shops in the city closing by 6 pm.
Dr. Shahriar Alam, a member of SUCI (Communist), noted the widespread impact of the strike, stating, “The response has been overwhelming. In Siliguri, especially around the Medical College area, people have refrained from using vehicles and kept their shops closed. This strong reaction reflects the public’s anger over the horrifying incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.”
The strike also serves as a protest against the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Dr. Alam added, “Not only was there a brutal rape and murder, but two days ago, at midnight, a group of outsiders attacked doctors, nurses, protesters, and even patients. They destroyed property to erase evidence, aiming to protect the criminals. Our strike is in response to these atrocities, which have sparked a movement of solidarity across the country and abroad.”
In addition to the strike, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine, starting from 6 am on Saturday, August 17, and ending at 6 am on Sunday, August 18.
Earlier, on Thursday, police reported that a mob of 5,000 to 7,000 people, including several individuals, stormed RG Kar Hospital on the night of August 14. The mob attacked protesting doctors and medical students and attempted to ransack the premises.
The tragic incident on August 9, where a postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, has led to widespread strikes and protests by the medical community nationwide.
