Shabana Azmi and President Murmu Condemn Kolkata Doctor’s Brutal Murder

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi voiced her sorrow over a trainee doctor's rape and murder in Kolkata. President Droupadi Murmu also expressed concern in an open letter, urging societal introspection to combat such crimes. Both emphasized the need to dismantle ingrained patriarchy and honor victims' memory.

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi has spoken out against the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, expressing her deep dismay over the incident earlier this month. Speaking to the media after attending an event in Pune, Azmi urged society to stop treating women as commodities.

"Such incidents are extremely dangerous. It's embarrassing to see that these kinds of heinous acts have not reduced despite the formation of the Justice Verma Committee back in 2012 during the Nirbhaya case. We should not treat women as commodities... we need to dismantle patriarchy which is deep-rooted in us," Azmi stated. The statement comes amid rising tensions, as President Droupadi Murmu also expressed her anguish over increasing crimes against women. In an open letter titled 'Women's Safety: Enough is Enough,' she called for self-introspection to uncover the roots of these issues.

President Murmu emphasized the need to confront societal history and scrutinize the causes behind crimes against women. She urged society to honor the memory of the victims to ensure future vigilance. She additionally underscored the importance of countering the mindset that deems women as lesser beings, noting it contributes to objectification and subsequent crimes. The President lamented that the gruesome incident in Kolkata reflects a broader pattern of crimes against women, stating, "No civilized society can allow daughters and sisters to be subjected to such atrocities. The nation is bound to be outraged, and so am I."

The trainee doctor was discovered dead on August 9 in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The incident has sparked widespread protests and demands for justice.

(With inputs from agencies.)