Written By Lisa Murimi
Protests have surged across India in response to the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor in West Bengal.
The outrage reached a peak on Wednesday during the Reclaim the Night march in Kolkata, where a mob vandalized RG Kar Hospital, the site of the brutal crime.
The attack occurred amidst widespread demonstrations, with smaller rallies in cities including Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune.
Protesters demanded justice and safer conditions for women, with tens of thousands joining the Kolkata march.
Clashes broke out when unidentified men stormed the hospital, smashing equipment and injuring some staff.
Videos of the destruction circulated online, showing the chaos.
In response, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country’s largest doctors’ group, has announced a nationwide strike of non-emergency services on Saturday.
The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (Forda) has resumed its strike, initially paused after a federal assurance on safety measures for doctors.
Political tensions have flared in West Bengal, with the BJP accusing the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) of orchestrating the violence, a claim the TMC denies, blaming “political outsiders.”
The rape and subsequent violence have shocked the nation, with additional recent cases worsening the crisis.
