Protests have erupted across India after the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at a government hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. Demonstrators gathered in cities including New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, demanding justice and improved security at medical institutions.
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The protests began on Aug. 9 when the woman’s body was discovered in a seminar hall at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. An autopsy confirmed sexual assault, and a police volunteer was detained in connection with the crime. The victim’s family, however, claims it was a gang rape involving more individuals.
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As public anger grows, thousands of doctors and paramedics are demanding safer working conditions at hospitals nationwide. Many hospitals have suspended non-emergency services in solidarity with the protests.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a 24-hour nationwide strike starting Saturday, Aug. 17, urging authorities to address safety concerns for health care workers, particularly female doctors.
“Doctors, especially women, face risks due to the nature of their work. It is the responsibility of authorities to ensure their safety in hospitals and campuses,” the IMA said in a statement.
The protests have drawn comparisons to the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi, which led to mass demonstrations and resulted in tougher laws on sexual violence.
Despite these legal reforms, reports of rape in India continue to rise. In 2022, police recorded over 31,500 cases, a 20% increase from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the recent incident, saying, “Monstrous behavior against women should be severely and promptly punished.”
Political leaders, celebrities, and rights activists have echoed these sentiments, calling for stronger action to protect women.
In addition to the peaceful protests, unrest occurred on Wednesday night at R.G. Kar Medical College, where demonstrators vandalized property and injured several police officers. Nineteen people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
[karah rucker]
PROTESTS HAVE SWEPT ACROSS INDIA FOLLOWING THE RAPE AND MURDER OF A 31-YEAR-OLD TRAINEE DOCTOR AT A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL IN KOLKATA. DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED IN CITIES INCLUDING NEW DELHI AND MUMBAI — CALLING FOR JUSTICE AND IMPROVED SECURITY AT MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
THE PROTESTS BEGAN LAST WEEK AFTER THE WOMAN’S BODY WAS FOUND IN A SEMINAR HALL AT THE R.G. KAR MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL. AN AUTOPSY LATER CONFIRMED SEXUAL ASSAULT — A POLICE VOLUNTEER WAS DETAINED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CRIME.
THE VICTIM’S FAMILY ALLEGES THAT IT WAS A GANG RAPE AND THAT MORE PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN THE ATTACK.
AS OUTRAGE GROWS — THOUSANDS OF DOCTORS AND PARAMEDICS ARE DEMANDING SAFER WORKING CONDITIONS AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS. MANY HOSPITALS HAVE SUSPENDED SERVICES — EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY CARE — TO SUPPORT THE CALL FOR BETTER PROTECTION OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
THE INDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAS ALSO CALLED FOR A NATIONWIDE WITHDRAWAL OF SERVICES FOR 24 HOURS — STARTING ON SATURDAY — URGING AUTHORITIES TO ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS.
THE IMA SAYS DOCTORS ARE AT RISK OF VIOLENCE DUE TO THE NATURE OF THEIR WORK AND URGED AUTHORITIES TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY WITHIN HOSPITALS AND ON CAMPUSES.
THE PROTESTS HAVE DRAWN COMPARISONS TO THE 2012 GANG RAPE AND MURDER OF A 23-YEAR-OLD STUDENT ON A BUS IN NEW DELHI — WHICH LED TO WIDESPREAD PROTESTS AND RESULTED IN TOUGHER LAWS ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN INDIA. DESPITE THESE CHANGES — THE NUMBER OF REPORTED RAPES IN THE COUNTRY HAS CONTINUED TO RISE.
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56 other sources covering this story
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Center
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8
Last Updated
4 months ago
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