Widespread Protests Erupt in West Bengal Following Brutal Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor
BJP-Led Strike in West Bengal: Widespread Disruptions Amidst Protests Over Trainee Doctor’s Murder.Kolkata, August 28 (Reuters) – A wave of protests swept through West Bengal on Wednesday as thousands of demonstrators blocked train tracks, halted buses, and chanted slogans in response to the recent brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor. This incident has sparked significant unrest and demonstrations across the eastern Indian state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is currently in opposition in West Bengal, orchestrated a 12-hour state-wide strike to protest the government’s handling of the crime. This move came after the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a large protest march the previous day. BJP supporters were among the key participants in Wednesday’s demonstrations, which also saw shops being forcibly closed.
Authorities are on high alert, having deployed around 5,000 police officers to manage the situation and prevent further violence. The protests were notably intense in Kolkata, the state’s capital, where thousands of doctors—many of whom have been on strike since the crime was reported on August 9—took to the streets. They are demanding justice for the victim and enhanced safety measures for medical professionals.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a prominent critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressed the crowd, emphasizing her desire for more stringent laws against sexual violence. “If the state government had the authority to create laws, I would have introduced legislation within a week mandating capital punishment for rape,” Banerjee stated. She has vowed to ensure swift justice and appealed to the striking doctors to return to their duties, expressing empathy for victims and their families.
University students were also active in Tuesday’s protests, calling for Banerjee’s resignation over her administration’s alleged failure to effectively address the case. The incident involves the tragic assault and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at a government-run hospital in Kolkata.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu has publicly expressed her shock and dismay over the incident, condemning the violence in strong terms. “No civilized society can tolerate such atrocities against our daughters and sisters. Enough is enough,” Murmu said in her first public remarks on the matter.
The nationwide outrage surrounding this case echoes the response to the 2012 gang-rape of a 23-year-old student on a moving bus in New Delhi, which led to widespread protests and demands for legal reform. Despite tougher laws introduced since then, activists argue that sexual violence remains a persistent issue.
A police volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime, and the investigation has been taken over by federal authorities.
Reporting by Subrata Nag Choudhary; Writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Clarence Fernandez