India Protests Intensify Over Doctor's Rape and Murder

Thousands of people across India have taken to the streets to demand justice for a 31-year-old trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical Hospital in Kolkata.

The incident, which occurred last Friday, has sparked widespread outrage and drawn parallels to the infamous 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a moving bus in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for strict punishment for crimes against women, addressing the nation on its 78th Independence Day. "As a society, we have to think about the atrocities being committed against our mothers, daughters and sisters. There is outrage against this in the country. I can feel this outrage," Modi said.

The Indian Medical Association condemned the violent attack on RG Kar Medical Hospital during a peaceful protest, highlighting the breakdown of law and order. Many government hospitals across India have suspended all services except emergency departments as junior doctors join the protests, demanding better and safer working conditions.

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, with over 85 million followers on Instagram, voiced her concern, stating, "This horrific incident has once again reminded us that women disproportionately bear the weight of ensuring their own safety."

The protests have seen thousands of women marching overnight, holding candles and posters that read "reclaim the night." The demonstrations are not limited to Kolkata but have spread to several other cities, reflecting the nation's collective grief and anger.