Protests continue in West Bengal over the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College. Doctors across hospitals nationwide are demonstrating, and following an appeal by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), a 24-hour nationwide strike began on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Only emergency services are being maintained during this strike. On Saturday, with outpatient department (OPD) services closed, patients in hospitals were left in distress. Many who came with the hope of receiving treatment were seen wandering around, pleading with doctors to spare just five minutes to attend to them. The strike hit hardest those patients who had traveled long distances to seek medical help. The impact of this strike is expected to continue on Sunday, as doctors remain firm in their demand. They insist that the government must enact laws to ensure the safety of doctors. The brutal incident involving the female doctor has also heated up the political atmosphere in the state. The BJP has launched a full-fledged attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating that law and order in the state have completely collapsed. Some BJP leaders have even called for the imposition of President’s Rule in West Bengal, arguing that the Mamata government should be dismissed. On the other hand, the TMC has accused the BJP of trying to politicize the issue. So far, the police have arrested a dozen people in connection with the rape and murder case of the female doctor. The main accused, Sanjay Roy, remains in judicial custody. The victim’s post-mortem report has also been released, revealing that she had injuries on her face, and that she was subjected to the heinous crime of rape by multiple individuals.