New Delhi/Kolkata: Protests have erupted in multiple Indian cities following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old female doctor, whose body was discovered last Friday. Authorities have arrested one suspect in connection with the crime.
Demonstrators, carrying candles and “reclaim the night” posters, rallied in cities including Kolkata, where the doctor’s body was found. The case has sparked additional protests from medical professionals demanding improved safety conditions.
In response, many government hospitals suspended all services except emergencies earlier this week, with junior doctors staging sit-ins to call for justice.
The RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the site of the crime, saw significant unrest as large crowds targeted the facility during protests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Independence Day, expressing concern over the violence against women, though he did not specifically mention the Kolkata case.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, crimes against women in India rose by 4 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year.