Itanagar, Aug 17 (Reporter) The medical professionals in the state of Arunachal Pradesh under the banner of Indian Medical Association Arunachal Pradesh branch (IMA-AP) on Saturday joined the nationwide protest, a 24-hour shutdown of non-emergency services, against the brutal rape and murder of a resident doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata recently. Because of the strike called by the IMA, the outpatient department (OPD) services were disrupted in the various health facilities across the state, sources said. The medical body has been demanding immediate arrest of all the culprits involved and speedy trial of the rape and murder case to award maximum punishment. The IMA also demanded a central law to protect the doctors and other healthcare personnel from all sorts of atrocities, declare all healthcare institutions as Special - Protected / Safe Zones and empower the National Medical Council to implement strict rules concerned with safety and security of medical students and all the modern medicine doctors working anywhere in India. IMA-AP president Dr Kesang Wangdi Thongdok informed that shutdown of all routine services for 24 hours duration in all hospitals, private and government alike, including TRIHMS, RK Mission Hospital and Heema Hospital here was ‘successful’ and added that peaceful dharnas were also staged in front of the respective hospitals today. “We have received good response from the public as well. Arunachal Pradesh Women Welfare Society and the Dental Association extended their support,” he said. Dr Kesang, however, informed that the doctors continued with the emergency and in-patient services without any interruption...////...