MHA Requires Two-Hourly Reports from States in Light of Healthcare Protests

The Union Home Ministry has instructed all state police forces to submit situation reports every two hours. This directive follows protests by doctors, nursing staff, and others against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A civic volunteer of Kolkata Police was arrested in connection with the crime the next day. The Calcutta High Court handed over the case to the CBI on Tuesday.

Monitoring Law and Order

The home ministry's communication emphasised that the law and order situation in all states should be closely monitored due to these protests. "Henceforth, a continuous two-hourly law and order situation report in this regard may kindly be sent to the MHA control room New Delhi by Fax/ Email/ WhatsApp from 1600 hours today," stated the communication sent on Friday.

The ministry also provided specific contact details for sending these reports, including Fax and WhatsApp numbers and an Email ID. This ensures that updates are received promptly and through multiple channels.

Protests and Demands

Doctors and other medical staff have been protesting across various parts of the country. These protests have impacted the functioning of health facilities as they demand a central law to prevent violence against healthcare personnel. They are also calling for hospitals to be declared safe zones with mandatory security measures among other demands.

A group of people entered the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital shortly after Wednesday midnight during protests by women against the rape-murder incident. They vandalised portions of the medical facility, escalating tensions further.

The Union Home Ministry's directive aims to ensure that any developments are promptly reported and addressed. This measure is intended to maintain public order amid ongoing protests by healthcare workers.

The situation remains tense as authorities continue to monitor events closely. The involvement of the CBI in investigating the case has added another layer of scrutiny to ensure justice is served.