Indian police have formally charged Sanjoy Roy with the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor, an incident that has horrified the nation and ignited widespread protests demanding action against violence towards women.
The doctor’s lifeless body was discovered at a government hospital in Kolkata on August 9, prompting an outcry over the ongoing issue of violence against women in India. Sanjoy Roy, who is reported to be 33 years old and had been working as a volunteer in the hospital, was arrested the day after the heinous crime and has been in custody since.
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official confirmed to AFP that a confidential document of evidence was submitted to the court, detailing the charges against Roy. If convicted, he could potentially face the death penalty.
The brutal nature of the crime has spurred tens of thousands of citizens to take to the streets, directing their anger at the insufficient protective measures for female doctors and healthcare workers. Although most medical staff have resumed their duties, a small group of doctors initiated a hunger strike earlier this month, expressing dissatisfaction with the West Bengal state government’s failure to fulfill promises of enhanced security measures, including improved lighting and surveillance cameras within healthcare facilities.
In response to the growing unrest, India’s Supreme Court last month established a national task force to assess and improve security for healthcare workers, describing the brutality of the doctor’s murder as having “shocked the conscience of the nation.”
The shocking details of this case have drawn parallels to the infamous 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a Delhi bus, which similarly resulted in widespread protests and calls for reform regarding women’s safety in India.
As the country grapples with this latest tragedy, many are demanding that authorities take swift action to ensure the safety and security of women, particularly those serving in vulnerable professions such as healthcare.
