Indian Doctors Demand Justice After Colleague's Brutal Murder

Junior doctors in India continued their protests after a colleague was raped and murdered, despite an official strike ending. The incident, which took place in Kolkata, has sparked nationwide outrage. Women activists highlight the ongoing vulnerability of women in India despite tougher laws. Authorities are urged to enhance security for healthcare workers.

Indian junior doctors remained off the job on Sunday, demanding justice for a colleague who was raped and murdered, despite the end of a strike called by a major doctors' association. The doctors have held protests, candlelight marches, and refused to see non-emergency patients following the killing of a 31-year-old postgraduate student in Kolkata.

In solidarity, thousands of people marched in Kolkata on Sunday evening, chanting 'we want justice' as West Bengal state authorities struggled to contain demonstrations. Women activists assert that the incident underscores women's persistent suffering in India, despite stricter laws introduced after the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case.

The victim's father expressed gratitude for the support, while campaigners argue that the criminal justice reforms post-2012 have not sufficiently deterred violence against women. A police volunteer has been arrested and charged. The Indian Medical Association has asked Prime Minister Modi for increased security for hospital staff, akin to airport protocols.

The R.G. Kar hospital, the crime scene, has faced significant unrest. Although doctors have returned to work, further actions are planned if the government does not implement strict measures. In Gujarat, over 6,000 trainee doctors in government hospitals continued to abstain from non-emergency services, pressuring the government for a thorough inquiry and arrests.

(With inputs from agencies.)