Indian doctors call off 17-day hunger strike over doctor’s rape and murder

• The protesters are also meeting the chief minister of the opposition-led state.
• CM Mamata Banerjee agreed to most of their demands.
• Some doctors suffer from severe dehydration, they were admitted to the hospital.

Young doctors in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on Monday called off a 17-day hunger strike they began to protest the rape and murder of a colleague, they said, in response to an appeal by the victim’s parents.

Protesters also met the opposition-led head of state, who has been scrutinizing the handling of sex crimes, to press their demand for better security and conditions in government hospitals, as well as justice for the woman.

A police volunteer was arrested for the crime, which sparked nationwide protests in August and September after the woman’s body was found at the city’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

“They (the victim’s parents) expressed their concerns for the health of the fasting junior doctors as well as the damaged healthcare services that must have affected hundreds of ordinary citizens,” said Dr Debasis Halder, the doctors’ spokesperson.

Some strike participants suffered severe dehydration and had to be hospitalized.

The doctors said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee agreed to most of their demands when she met them on Monday.

“Our movement for justice and a healthy, safe health care system will continue,” Halder said, adding that doctors will monitor progress on her assurances and mandates for change.

Government hospitals across India lack basic amenities like toilets for doctors, security personnel and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, say doctors.

India’s Supreme Court has also taken up the matter, but junior doctors say its efforts have not been enough to ensure justice.

The West Bengal state government has been slow to set up new courts for such crimes, while failing to keep promises of better security measures made to doctors in 2019.

India adopted tougher laws to protect women after the horrific gang-rape and murder of a woman in the capital New Delhi in 2012, but activists say women are still victims of sexual violence.