India is witnessing a surge in protests following the brutal rape and murder of a female trainee doctor in West Bengal, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation.
The unrest escalated dramatically when a mob attacked RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, where the crime took place, during a massive “Reclaim the Night” march on Wednesday.
The protest in Kolkata, attended by tens of thousands of women, aimed to demand “independence to live in freedom and without fear.” Although the march was largely peaceful, chaos ensued when a group of unidentified men stormed the hospital, ransacking the emergency ward and smashing beds and equipment with sticks.
Several doctors and hospital staff were reportedly injured, and police vehicles were damaged. The police had to use tear gas to disperse the attackers, and 19 individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The incident has sparked further outrage, with smaller protests erupting in cities such as Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country’s largest organization of doctors, condemned the violence, calling it “hooliganism unleashed on protesting students,” and announced a nationwide strike of non-emergency services on Saturday.
“Doctors, especially women, are vulnerable to violence because of the nature of the profession. It is for the authorities to provide for the safety of doctors inside hospitals and campuses,” the IMA stated, urging the nation to support the “just cause” of its medical professionals.
The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (Forda) has also resumed its strike, which was previously called off after assurances from federal Health Minister JP Nadda. Forda’s demands include the implementation of a federal law to curb attacks on doctors, reflecting the deep-seated concern within the medical community.
The tragedy has also ignited a political blame game in West Bengal, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) of orchestrating the hospital attack. The TMC, however, has denied these allegations, attributing the violence to “political outsiders.”
The murder of the 31-year-old doctor has sent shockwaves across India. Her half-naked body, bearing extensive injuries, was discovered in a seminar hall at the hospital last week. A hospital volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime.
This horrifying case is part of a disturbing trend of violence against women in India. In the past week alone, two more shocking incidents of rape have made headlines. In Uttarakhand, a nurse was allegedly raped and killed while returning home from work, with her body found days after she went missing. In Bihar, six people were arrested for the gang-rape and murder of a six-year-old Dalit girl, whose mutilated body was discovered in a village pond.
As the country grapples with these heinous crimes, the protests show no sign of abating, underscoring the deep anger and frustration felt by many across India.
