Thousands of people took to the streets in various Indian cities on Friday to protest the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a government hospital, calling for justice and enhanced security measures at medical campuses and hospitals.
In New Delhi, demonstrators gathered near Parliament, holding signs that demanded accountability for the woman’s rape and murder. Similar protests occurred in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal where the crime took place, as well as in other cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad.
The protests, which have largely remained peaceful, began on August 9 when police discovered the bloodied body of the 31-year-old trainee doctor in the seminar hall of the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. An autopsy later confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted, and a police volunteer was detained in connection with the crime. The victim’s family has alleged that it was a gang rape involving multiple perpetrators.
There have been accusations that state government officials initially mishandled the investigation. Following a court order, the case was handed over to federal investigators.
Since then, rising anger has erupted into nationwide protests, highlighting the ongoing issue of violence against women. These protests have also led to walkouts by thousands of doctors and paramedics from public hospitals across India, demanding a safer working environment.
Sexual violence against women remains a significant issue in India. In 2022, police recorded 31,516 reports of rape, marking a 20% increase from 2021, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. However, many cases go unreported due to the stigma surrounding sexual violence and a lack of trust in law enforcement. Activists emphasize that the problem is particularly severe in rural areas, where victims often face community shame, and families worry about their social standing.
Richa Garg, a doctor who participated in the New Delhi protests, expressed her concerns about workplace safety. “As a woman, it enrages me. The perpetrators of this crime should be brought to justice immediately… and our workplaces should be made safer,” she said.
On Wednesday night, the hospital where the trainee doctor was killed was attacked. Although police have not identified the attackers, they have arrested 19 individuals so far.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country’s largest organization of medical professionals, issued a statement on Thursday calling for a “nationwide withdrawal of services,” excluding essential services, for 24 hours starting Saturday. The IMA emphasized the vulnerability of doctors, especially women, to violence due to the nature of their profession and urged authorities to ensure the safety of medical professionals in hospitals and on campuses.
Political parties, Bollywood actors, and other prominent figures have also expressed outrage over the crime, demanding stricter punishments for perpetrators. In a national address on Thursday during India’s 78th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, “Monstrous behavior against women should be severely and promptly punished.”
For many, the brutality of this attack has drawn comparisons to the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a New Delhi bus, which sparked massive protests and led to significant legal reforms. In response to public outcry, lawmakers introduced harsher penalties for sexual crimes, created fast-track courts for rape cases, and under pressure, implemented the death penalty for repeat offenders.
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The 2013 amendments to rape laws also criminalized stalking and voyeurism and lowered the age at which individuals can be tried as adults from 18 to 16.
