Massive Candlelight Protest at Port Blair in Solidarity with Kolkata Doctor’s Tragic Incident

Neeraj & Prabhakar Rao
Port Blair, Aug 17: In a powerful display of solidarity and outrage, the ANIIMS Student Council organized a candlelight protest march today, starting from Cellular Jail and concluding at Flag Point. The protest was in response to the horrific rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, which has sent shockwaves across the nation. The march, which began at 5:30 PM, saw a significant turnout, with students, health workers, parents, civil society members, and the general public joining hands to condemn the brutal incident.
The atmosphere was sober as participants walked shouting slogans like “We want Justice”, holding Placards & candles, a symbol of hope and justice for the victim.
The march aimed to raise awareness about the safety concerns faced by medical professionals and to demand stricter measures to ensure their protection.
Upon reaching Flag Point, the gathering was addressed by Dr. Pragya Sharma, Director of ANIIMS. In her heartfelt speech, she expressed deep sorrow over the incident and emphasized the importance of security for all medical staff. Dr. Sharma stated, “What happened is deeply tragic, and we all stand united in this moment of grief. In our hospital, we are committed to ensuring the safety of all our students and doctors, regardless of gender. Every child and doctor is equally important to us, and we will not tolerate any breach of their security. We are all in this together, and we will do everything in our power to protect our medical community.”
Following Dr. Sharma’s address, Dr. Suja Antony, Director of Health Services, A & N Administration, also spoke to the gathering. She expressed her profound grief and condemned the incident, labeling it as “shameful” and “below humanity.” Dr. Antony voiced her concerns about such incidents occurring in independent India and emphasized the need for collective action. We stand by our fraternity because this is a tragic incident that could happen to any of us tomorrow. We assure you that we will do our utmost to ensure the safety of our doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and everyone working in hospitals, not only in Port Blair but also in other islands. We also urge the public to show respect to our medical professionals, who serve tirelessly in difficult conditions. This is not just the responsibility of the directors; it is a collective responsibility of the entire community.”