A court in India has convicted a man of raping and murdering a trainee doctor, sparking widespread outrage across the country. Sanjay Roy, a hospital volunteer worker, was found guilty over the attack, which occurred at a hospital in Kolkata city last year. The victim’s mother called for the death penalty, saying that people would lose faith in India’s legal system if Roy wasn’t handed the punishment.
Roy has maintained his innocence and claims he is being framed. The body of the 31-year-old doctor was found severely injured near a podium in the hospital’s seminar hall after a long shift. Post-mortem examination revealed she had been strangled and showed signs of fighting back.
The case was initially investigated by the Kolkata police but later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) due to allegations of mishandling. The victim’s parents petitioned for a fresh investigation, citing concerns about the CBI’s handling of the case.
The incident raised concerns about rising cases of violence against health workers in India, with many facing physical abuse from angry patients or relatives. A 2017 survey found that over 75% of doctors have experienced some form of violence, and nearly 63% fear potential violence while treating patients.
The rape and murder of the doctor draws attention to widespread sexual violence against women in India, where more than 31,000 rapes were reported in 2022. Many cases go unreported due to social stigma and a lack of trust in the police and judicial system, often resulting in victims being shamed instead of perpetrators.
The case echoes a similar incident in 2012, when a medical student was raped and murdered in Delhi, prompting authorities to amend rape laws in 2013. The changes broadened the definition of the crime, set stricter punishments for sexual assault, and lowered the age at which a person can be tried from 18 to 16.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gxp7dpl5po