Anger is growing across India after the brutal rape and murder of a young female doctor in the eastern city of Kolkata. The Indian Medical Association has called for a 24-hour nationwide shutdown of most hospital services starting Saturday morning, the largest such strike in over a decade.
The 31-year-old trainee doctor was attacked inside the medical college where she worked last week, sparking nationwide protests among the medical community.
The incident has drawn parallels to the notorious 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus.
“Doctors, especially women, are vulnerable to violence because of the nature of the profession. It is for the authorities to provide for the safety of doctors inside hospitals and campuses,” the IMA said in a statement.
Political parties, including the opposition BJP, are planning protests in Kolkata on Friday, while Bollywood actors, celebrities and politicians have expressed shock and called for harsher punishments.
A police volunteer has been arrested and charged with the crime.
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Doctors say the attack highlights the lack of proper protection and facilities that leave medical professionals vulnerable.
Despite reforms after the 2012 Delhi case, campaigners say little has changed to improve safety for women.
