Thousands of people took to the streets across India on Independence Day Tuesday and Wednesday in support of doctors who are on strike to protest against widespread violence against them.
The doctors’ strike began on Monday in response to a particularly heinous crime: the rape and murder of a 31-year-old medical intern at a public hospital in Kolkata. The crime was allegedly committed by a local civilian police volunteer who regularly posed as a police officer and behaved inappropriately at the hospital. The suspect reportedly confessed, but it is not clear whether he had any reason to be at the hospital.
The doctor’s body was found in the hospital’s seminar hall, sparking anger over the lack of security the government is providing to health workers, especially women, during the crisis. Experts Explained Rape is “endemic” in India. There are so many rapes in India, including rape-murders and gang rapes, that in the past the US government has issued travel warnings to India due to its high rape rates.
The crime in Kolkata and the protests that followed overshadowed Independence Day celebrations, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not avoid the topic in his Independence Day speech, in which he condemned violence against women and vowed that perpetrators of “satanic” acts like rape would be swiftly “hanged.”
A special moment at the Red Fort this morning as they celebrated Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/1OpNrlRCpV
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2024
“As a society, we have to think seriously about the atrocities being committed against our mothers, sisters and daughters. There is anger among common people about this. I feel that anger,” PM Modi said. said “Crime against women should be promptly investigated and those responsible for such devilish acts should be given severe punishment,” said the people, who had gathered outside Delhi’s historic Red Fort.
“Those who commit such crimes should be prepared to face death by hanging,” Modi continued, according to the Indian newspaper. Hinduism.
In his speech, Modi reportedly went beyond the issue of widespread criminal violence to discuss women’s rights more generally, declaring his support for extending maternity leave for working women and praising Indian women for being “economically independent.”
The broader context of PM Modi’s speech is that of a national Protest Organizers described the rally as a “prayer for women’s independence at midnight on Independence Day,” and it began Tuesday night and continued into the early hours of Wednesday morning. Thousands Media reports said protesters demanded that Indian law enforcement take rape and murder of women seriously and crack down on perpetrators.
The protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, but Indian media Reported A group of people attacked the RG Kall Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata (site of the recent rape-murder case), damaging police vehicles and hospital premises, as well as assaulting the protesters themselves.
“A group of thugs entered the hospital. Doctors who were causing a disturbance were attacked and had to flee,” said Suvendu Mullick, a senior resident doctor. said India’s World is One News (WION) reported: “Police officers even tried to enter the building where the junior doctor was raped and murdered while they stood as silent bystanders.”
Police eventually used tear gas and retreated from the area, but medics reported they were under attack for an extended period of time before police acted.
The Kolkata case has attracted widespread attention because of the brutal injuries left on the victim. The unnamed medical intern suffered horrific injuries to her eyes and face, as well as injuries consistent with rape. On Thursday, a post-mortem examination revealed that the attack may have involved multiple people.
“The autopsy report proves the brutality she encountered, the presence of multiple people and that she was sexually assaulted multiple times. This is bestiality of the worst kind,” Dr Subarna Goswami said. said The autopsy report was analysed by the Press Agency of India (PTI), which reportedly detailed injuries consistent with “genital torture”.
Police have so far only arrested one man in connection with the crime. Sanjoy RoyRoy reportedly immediately admitted to the crime. Indian media reports said Roy had “frequently” entered the hospital grounds without legitimate reason, impersonated a police officer, and Poisoning Police found violent pornographic images on his mobile phone.
“The pornographic content found on his phone was extremely disturbing and violent. It is highly unnatural for him to view such material and we are concerned about his mental state,” police said. Hinduism.
Second case of violent sexual assault against health care worker Surfaced Police launched an investigation on Thursday after a man was arrested for allegedly raping and murdering a nurse in Uttarakhand state. The woman is believed to have been killed on July 30, but police have only recently arrested a suspect, Dharmendra Kumar, who they say was a “wage labourer”.
“The accused is a (drug) addict and does not know the woman,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Manjunath TC. said of Indian Express“According to our information, he tried to stop the woman, but she resisted violently. However, he overpowered her and…” [he] “He strangled her to death. He also sexually assaulted her. After the murder, he took the woman’s belongings and fled.”
