India, July 23 -- The attempted suicide of a 28-year-old female resident doctor at the JJ Hospital has triggered a storm of protests and condemnations. In light of ongoing inquiries by the hospital and state-authorities, the hospital's paediatrics department head, Dr Bela Verma has been temporarily relieved of her duties, and the United Doctors Front (UDF) has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding urgent criminal action against her.

The third-year postgraduate student, who is currently in the hospital's intensive care unit, reportedly ingested a poisonous substance on July 16 after enduring months of alleged "relentless harassment" by her senior.

The UDF's letter to Fadnavis described the incident as a "symptom of instit...