Protests grow in India over the rape and killing of a doctor at a state-run hospital

NEW DELHI (WSN) — On Friday, thousands across India took to the streets to protest the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a government hospital, demanding justice and improved security at medical facilities. Demonstrators, holding signs that called for accountability, gathered near Parliament in New Delhi, while similar protests unfolded in Kolkata, where the crime occurred, as well as in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

The protests, which have largely remained peaceful, began on August 9 when the police found the 31-year-old doctor’s bloodied body in the seminar hall of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. An autopsy confirmed she had been sexually assaulted, and a police volunteer has been detained. The victim’s family suspects a gang rape and believes more perpetrators were involved.

Initial state investigators have been accused of mishandling the case, which has since been transferred to federal authorities by court order. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, with many protests focusing on violence against women. This has led to thousands of doctors and paramedics walking out of public hospitals across India, demanding safer working conditions.

Sexual violence against women remains a significant issue in India. The National Crime Records Bureau reported 31,516 cases of rape in 2022, a 20% increase from the previous year. Many incidents of sexual violence go unreported due to societal stigma and a lack of trust in the police. Women’s rights activists highlight that rural areas often experience heightened issues, with community pressure and concerns about social standing affecting victims and their families.

Dr. Richa Garg, who participated in the New Delhi protests, expressed her fear for safety at her workplace. “As a woman, it boils my blood. The culprits of this crime should be found immediately … and our workplaces should be made safer,” she said.

On Wednesday night, the hospital where the doctor was killed was attacked. Although police have not identified the perpetrators, they have arrested 19 individuals so far.

The Indian Medical Association, the country’s largest group of medical professionals, called for a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of services, excluding essential ones, starting Saturday. They emphasized that doctors, especially women, are vulnerable to violence and stressed the need for improved safety measures within hospitals and medical campuses.

Political figures, Bollywood celebrities, and other high-profile individuals have expressed shock over the crime and advocated for stricter punishments for offenders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the violence, calling for severe and prompt punishment for perpetrators in his Independence Day address.

The brutal nature of the attack has drawn comparisons to the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi, which led to widespread protests, stricter penalties, and the establishment of fast-track courts for rape cases. The 2013 amendments to the rape law also criminalized stalking and voyeurism and lowered the age for adult trials from 18 to 16.