Kolkata: Nationwide anger over violence against women sparks protests, strikes, and demands for justice.
Authorities in Kolkata have dismissed the city’s police chief and top health officials following widespread protests over the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor.
The doctor’s bloodied body was found at a state-run hospital on August 9, triggering national outrage and highlighting the persistent issue of violence against women in India.
Protests and strikes erupted across the country, led by medics demanding safer working conditions for women.
While demonstrations have largely subsided in other regions, Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, continues to see regular protests.
In response to these ongoing demands, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, as well as two health officials, after meeting with striking doctors.
Banerjee urged medical staff to resume work, emphasizing the impact on emergency services, but the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front vowed to continue their protests until a full investigation is completed.
The state government has faced public backlash for its handling of the case, and one suspect has been detained.
India’s Supreme Court recently called for a national task force to improve security for healthcare workers, declaring that the brutality of the killing had “shocked the conscience of the nation.”
The case has drawn parallels to the 2012 gang rape and murder in Delhi, which sparked mass protests and political changes.