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Verdict in India: Police Volunteer Convicted for Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor
A police volunteer has been convicted of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in India, a case that ignited widespread protests and strikes within the medical community last year.
Judge Anirban Das announced that Sanjay Roy, who is 33 years old, will face sentencing on Monday, with the possibility of receiving penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty.
Last August, unrest began in West Bengal following the discovery of the body of a 31-year-old medical intern, found within a lecture hall at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. Reports indicated that the woman had sought refuge in the hall during her night shift when she was brutally attacked.
An autopsy revealed that the victim had suffered sexual assault and other violent injuries prior to her death. Evidence suggested that she had fought back against her assailant and may have endured torture.
Roy was apprehended shortly after the incident; however, formal charges were not brought against him until two months later. Throughout the proceedings, he has maintained his innocence, claiming he did not commit the crime.
The trial was expedited through India’s slow-moving judicial process, with proceedings commencing in November. This case further illuminated the persistent issue of violence against women in India.
In the aftermath of the incident, a significant wave of protests swept across India, led by doctors and medical students advocating for justice and enhanced safety protocols in medical facilities. Numerous women across the nation participated in “Reclaim The Night” marches, voicing demands for justice for the victim and calling for the death penalty for the perpetrator.
Social activists have also taken to the streets, rallying outside the Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court in Kolkata, where the trial is taking place, making their displeasure with the judicial handling of such crimes abundantly clear.
The shocking nature of this case has brought attention to the increase in sexual violence against women in India, prompting the Supreme Court to establish a national task force aimed at improving safety measures in public hospitals across the nation.
Many incidents of violence against women go unreported in India, often due to the stigma associated with sexual violence and a pervasive distrust in law enforcement. Activists highlight that this issue is particularly pressing in rural communities, where victims frequently face societal shaming, and families fear for their social reputations.
The number of officially recorded rape cases in India has seen a significant rise, with the National Crime Records Bureau reporting 31,516 cases in 2022, marking a 20% increase from the previous year.
The 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a New Delhi bus was a catalyst for massive protests nationwide and led to significant legal reforms. Lawmakers initiated measures to impose stricter penalties for such crimes and established fast-track courts specifically for rape cases. The subsequent legislation in 2013 not only introduced harsher penalties but also criminalized stalking and voyeurism, while lowering the minimum age for adult prosecution from 18 to 16.
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