Caste Based Oppression: Mumbai Doctor Accused Of Harassing Junior Arrested

NEW DELHI: One of the three doctors accused of abetting the suicide of a junior at Mumbai's BYL Nair Hospital has been arrested, after being on the run.

Dr Payal Tadvi's husband Salman and mother Abida Salim demanded "strictest action" against the three women doctors leading her to kill herself. "She was picked on for being lower caste and was ragged quite a bit by her seniors. The seniors said they will not let her study. They used to humiliate her on WhatsApp too. We want the government to intervene. The police are not taking any action. It is possible that Payal was murdered by the three women doctors," her husband said.

The three doctors accused wrote a letter to the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD). A line from the letter said, "This is not the way to do an investigation through police force and media pressure, without hearing our side,"

Protests have been underway following the doctor's suicide lead by her family outside the hospital. Members from Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, and many other Dalit and tribal organisations took part in the protest.

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad said he would visit Maharashtra if his presence is needed, saying "fight for justice for our younger sister".

The National Commission for Women has written to the director of the hospital. The state women's commission has also served a notice to the hospital, demanding a reply from the authorities within eight days.