Protests erupted in Kolkata, India demanding the resignation of a top state minister following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters, leading to clashes. The attack on the doctor has sparked nationwide outrage, with campaigners highlighting the issue of sexual violence against women despite tougher laws. A police volunteer has been arrested for the crime, with the federal police taking over the investigation.
Junior doctors across the country have refused to see non-emergency patients in protest, demanding justice for the victim and better safety for women in hospitals. The Supreme Court has created a hospital safety task force and urged protesting doctors to return to work, but some continue to hold out. In Kolkata, more than 5,000 police officers were deployed as protests led by university students demanded the resignation of the West Bengal Chief Minister.
The governing Trinamool Congress Party blamed the police crackdown on the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliates, who have shown support for the protesters. The BJP accused the state government of trying to suppress the rape and murder incident. Despite these political tensions, the protests in Kolkata and neighboring areas continue to draw attention to the need for justice and safety for women in India.
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