California: Peaceful protest condemning the murder of on-duty female doctor in Kolkata, India

A group of Indian Americans organized a protest in the City of Folsom, California, USA. The group demanded urgent steps to address gender-based violence in the wake of the rape and murder case of a female medic in Kolkata, India.

A 31-year-old junior doctor was raped and murdered while on duty and her body was discovered at the seminar hall in the hospital premises on August 9, 2024, with a civic volunteer arrested in connection with the attack the following day. It has triggered widespread doctors’ agitation across the globe and a CBI inquiry into the case is ongoing.

Indian Americans based in Greater Sacramento – the capital city of California State – USA held a peaceful demonstration outside the City of Folsom Hall doorsteps on Sunday, August 25th, 2024, and this group strongly condemned the brutal rape and murder of the on-duty female doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

The group voiced an opinion that the local West Bengal State Government has failed to provide a safe space for working women doctors in the hospital. A protester said this incident is a serious symptom of the rising violence against women in the State and the negligence of the State government towards its citizens.

The absence of investment in public infrastructure and safety measures has a disproportionate impact on women and eventually led to the current incident at the hospital – another protester said. One angry protester said, “The local State Government is busy with vote bank politics – they have no time to implement measures to secure hospital staff, especially female medics”.

One of the group organizers Mr. Debashis Maity said that this group will continue to Fight for swift justice and enhanced safety, and security of the medical professionals”. Another organizer from this group Mrs Oindrila Chakrabortty demanded immediate measures for the safety and security of the medical staff – including…

1. Install and properly maintain video cameras covering all the hospital premises

2. Entry to the rest/sleep areas is to be permitted only to eligible medical professionals 

3. ⁠By law prohibit politicians from taking part in the hospital administration

The group is planning further peaceful protests, to continue to highlight their demand for justice in a case that has sent shockwaves across India and among the diasporas. This initiative has come from northern California-based Indian Americans. City of Folsom Councilmember Mr. YK Chalamcharla attended this protest and prayed tribute to the victim.

The protesters demanded a thorough judicial inquiry into the incident and the implementation of adequate workplace security measures for all medical staff including women. The group demanded immediate justice for the victim’s family.