Doctors and citizens shout slogans during a protest march. In contrast, junior doctors hold a hunger strike against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, India, on October 8.

A man has been charged in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor during her night shift at a hospital in Kolkata, India. The brutal crime has ignited protests across the country, once again highlighting India’s ongoing struggle with gender violence.

According to a charge sheet obtained by CNN, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleges that on August 8, the accused had been drinking with a friend before returning to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. It was there that he allegedly found the female doctor asleep on a mattress and assaulted her.

The trainee doctor’s body was discovered the next day, showing multiple injuries and signs of sexual assault, local authorities reported.

The victim had been resting in a seminar room while working the night shift when the assault occurred, according to former Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal. Indian law protects the identities of rape victims, so the woman’s name has not been released.

On Monday, the CBI charged the accused, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata police, with rape and murder under several sections of Indian law, a source close to the CBI informed CNN. The man remains in police custody after being arrested shortly after the woman’s body was found. CNN has identified the suspect but has not received a comment from his legal team.

Key Evidence

The CBI’s evidence, as noted in the charge sheet, includes CCTV footage that places the suspect at the hospital during the incident and DNA samples found on the victim that match the accused.

Protests and Strikes

India has long grappled with high rates of violence against women, with several high-profile rape cases bringing global attention to the issue.

In the aftermath of the alleged attack, hundreds of thousands of doctors and citizens have joined mass protests across the country, demanding justice and heightened safety measures for women, particularly for health workers on duty.

In Kolkata, junior doctors went on strike for over 40 days and later halted work again, citing the government’s failure to address their demands. These demands include increased hospital security and investigations into alleged corruption within the healthcare sector. Protest organizers told CNN that several junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College have launched an indefinite hunger strike, and dozens of senior doctors have resigned in solidarity.

Medical organizations in several states have supported the protests, urging government hospital doctors to suspend elective services. They are also calling for the case to be fast-tracked and for the creation of a dedicated protective committee for healthcare workers.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), one of the country’s largest medical bodies, announced plans for a hunger strike on Wednesday, which marks two months since the doctor’s death.

“This ongoing violence underscores the urgent need for stronger protective measures and national legislation to safeguard healthcare professionals,” FAIMA said in its official statement.

Government Response and Supreme Court Ruling

In response to mounting pressure, the West Bengal government last month agreed to meet some of the protesters’ demands, including the replacement of Kolkata’s police commissioner, deputy commissioner, and two senior health officials involved in the incident.

Initially, the state government also directed hospitals to avoid assigning female doctors to night shifts, a move that was met with heavy criticism from the Supreme Court. The court argued that the focus should be on providing better security rather than limiting the duties of female doctors. The directive was subsequently revoked.

Additionally, the CBI has arrested two others in connection with the case: the former principal of the medical college and a police officer. According to a source at the CBI, they are accused of tampering with the crime scene and delaying the filing of an FIR (First Information Report). Their roles in the incident are currently under investigation.

Violence Against Health Workers

Protesting doctors have drawn attention to the rising number of violent incidents against healthcare workers, who often face threats and physical assaults from angry patients or their family members.

A 2015 survey by the Indian Medical Association found that 75% of doctors in India had experienced some form of violence, a statistic reported widely by local media.

A History of Gender Violence

One of India’s most infamous rape and murder cases, which also led to widespread protests, was the 2012 gang rape of a medical student in New Delhi. The young woman was tortured and left for dead after being assaulted on a public bus.

That case drew intense international attention and led to major legal reforms in India. In 2013, the country’s rape laws were amended to include stricter punishments for not only rape but also sexual assault, voyeurism, and stalking.

However, despite these changes, gender-based violence remains widespread. Victims and advocates argue that the government is still not doing enough to protect women and bring attackers to justice.

According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau, 31,516 rape cases were recorded in 2022, averaging 86 incidents per day.

Experts caution that the true number of cases is likely much higher, as societal stigma and shame surrounding rape often prevent victims from reporting the crime. Delays and backlogs in the judicial system further compound the issue, denying many victims timely justice.