A man has been convicted for the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at a hospital in Kolkata, India, a crime that has ignited widespread protests and concern about the safety of healthcare workers in the country.
Sanjay Roy, a hospital volunteer, was found guilty of the brutal attack that took place in August 2024 at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. The incident, which occurred after the doctor had completed a grueling 36-hour shift, led to national outrage and protests by medical professionals across India.
The victim, whose name is being withheld for legal reasons, was discovered dead in a hospital seminar hall on August 9, 2024, by a colleague. She had gone to rest in the hall after her shift and was later found severely injured and half-naked near a podium. A post-mortem revealed she had been strangled and fought back during the assault.
The charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stated that Roy, who was reportedly drunk at the time, found the doctor asleep in the seminar hall and attacked her. Roy was arrested a day after the incident. Initially, the Kolkata police had investigated the case, but following accusations of mishandling the investigation, the case was transferred to the CBI.
The victim’s mother expressed deep concern over the judicial process, telling AFP that if Roy were not sentenced to the death penalty, people would lose faith in India’s legal system. The court, led by Judge Anirban Das, is expected to announce the sentence on Monday, with possible penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty.
The attack sparked a wave of protests across India, with healthcare workers demanding justice and improved security for medical staff. On August 14, tens of thousands of women participated in the “Reclaim the Night” march, holding rallies in Kolkata and other cities on the eve of India’s Independence Day.
The case also raised broader issues regarding violence against healthcare workers in India, with a 2017 survey by the Indian Medical Association revealing that more than 75% of doctors had experienced some form of violence. The issue of sexual violence against women remains a pervasive problem in India, with over 31,000 rapes reported in 2022, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.
The victim’s parents have petitioned the Calcutta High Court for a new investigation, claiming that Roy could not have committed the crime alone and seeking justice for all those involved. The Supreme Court is overseeing the case, and the High Court has stated it will only consider the plea if directed by the Supreme Court.
The case has drawn comparisons to the 2012 Delhi rape and murder that spurred global protests and led to changes in India’s rape laws.
