Eastern India’s West Bengal state has witnessed chaos in recent days as a result of protests over the rape and murder of a doctor earlier this month. The incident took place on August 9 at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, sparking a wave of demonstrations across India involving medical professionals, lawyers, students, and political parties staging their dissatisfaction with the state’s handling of the case.
In response to the protests and subsequent clashes between protesters and police, the West Bengal branch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for a statewide 12-hour strike on Tuesday. This call to action was made in opposition to the “violence on the student agitation” during the protest march, according to BJP member and union minister of state Sukanta Majumder.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported that thousands of protesters, including BJP workers, blocked roads and railway tracks, forcing shops to shut down across the state. While schools and colleges remained open, attendance was affected as a result of the unrest. Approximately 5,000 police officers were deployed in an attempt to maintain peace during the strike.
However, sporadic incidents of violence occurred throughout the 12-hour shutdown, with two people being hospitalized with gunshot injuries to their heads, according to the Times of India. A police volunteer, who used to work at the hospital where the incident took place, has been arrested in connection with the case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a federal agency, is now investigating the case involving the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor. The BJP has demanded the dismissal of West Bengal’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, who leads the rival Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, for her government’s handling of the case and the subsequent police investigation.
Banerjee’s government urged people not to participate in the strike on Wednesday. Addressing a public gathering, the chief minister alleged that the BJP is trying to “defame Bengal” by calling for such protests. Banerjee vowed to introduce a bill providing for the death penalty for rapists within seven days of a crime.
Last week, she wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting stringent central legislation and strong central laws to prevent such crimes. Modi then commented on the issue, stating that the safety of women is a priority for his government and that federal authorities would support states “in every possible way” to stop atrocities against females.
Despite New Delhi’s introduction of tougher legislation to combat crimes against women, India continues to struggle with high levels of such offenses, including sexual violence.