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MUMBAI: Around 4,500 resident doctors in the state will stay away from work on Friday in solidarity with doctors protesting across the country against the assault on two medicos from NRS College in Kolkata by the kin of a patient.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) said junior doctors across government hospitals in the state would not perform surgeries or work in out-patient departments (OPDs) between 8 am and 5 pm. Emergency services will function normally. "We will not be treating any patients in routine OPDs or carry out surgeries or take rounds of wards. Doctors posted in emergency duties will not participate in the protest," said Dr Kalyani Dongre, president of MARD central.

She said the protests may be intensified if the West Bengal government does not meet the demands of the protesting doctors there.

The residents will carry out demonstrations wearing black badges and helmets. "It's government's failure to create a safe work environment for us," said Dongre.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) said it, too, would join the protests. "All the state branches will organise dharnas before all district collectors' offices between 10 am and 12 pm. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister will be handed over to the collector in every district," said a statement from the IMA.

The Maharashtra Association of Bonded Senior Resident Doctors is also extending support to the pan-India strike.

IMA officials said they were closely following up with the West Bengal government and police to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.

