KOLKATA: A 31-year-old female doctor was found brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, sparking widespread outrage and protests across India over violence against women. The tragic incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of women in the medical profession.
The doctor’s body was discovered in a seminar hall where she had gone for a break during a grueling 36-hour shift. An autopsy confirmed sexual assault, and her parents have alleged that she may have been gang-raped. The gruesome nature of the crime has prompted widespread unrest, with healthcare workers and citizens alike demanding justice.
With 66% of Indian doctors being women, the brutal rape and murder of the young female doctor at the state-run hospital has raised alarm about the safety of female medical professionals.
Protests have intensified in India after a mob vandalized the hospital where a female trainee doctor was raped and murdered. Thousands of outraged Indian protesters called for justice for the murdered doctor and her family.
The horrific nature of the crime has drawn comparisons to the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a Delhi bus, a case that triggered nationwide protests and calls for reform.
In response to the murder, healthcare workers across India have intensified their protests, leading to widespread strikes that have significantly disrupted medical services. The strikes, which have extended into their second week, have seen doctors from hospitals in various cities refusing to perform non-essential procedures.
Protests have been marked by an unprecedented display of unity, as rival football fans, political activists, and ordinary citizens have joined forces.
Nationwide rallies were held despite torrential monsoon rains and attempts by police to disperse the crowd. The protest rallies saw a diverse mix of participants including students, lawyers, and healthcare workers. “It’s not just a protest, but a call to humanity,” said Sristi Haldar, a 23-year-old student from Presidency University. “We are angry. It’s about the safety of all women everywhere.”
Doctors from RG Kar Medical College & Hospital have been at the forefront of the protests, staging demonstrations outside the hospital. “We are determined that we don’t give in to pressure to remain silent,” said Shreya Shaw, a fellow doctor. “The protests will go on until we get justice.”
The protests have also seen involvement from lawyers, many of whom have marched in their traditional black gowns, and hundreds of doctors have offered to provide free medical care outside India’s health ministry to highlight their plight. The medical community has demanded the immediate implementation of the Central Protection Act, a proposed bill aimed at safeguarding healthcare workers from violence.
The scale of the protests underscores the deep-seated issue of sexual violence in India, where an average of nearly 90 rapes per day were reported in 2022. The public’s response reflects growing frustration with the endemic nature of sexual violence and the slow pace of judicial and societal reform.
As of Monday, Indian media reported that five persons had been arrested in connection with another sexual violence case involving a child in Uttarakhand state. The arrest highlights the ongoing issue of sexual violence across the country.
