Police Volunteer Sentenced to Life in Prison for Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor in Kolkata
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A police volunteer in India, Sanjay Roy, has been sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. The incident occurred in August 2024, when the 31-year-old doctor was attacked while on duty at a state-run teaching hospital. Her body was found in a seminar hall, half-naked and with severe injuries, indicating she had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Roy, who worked informally as a police volunteer at the hospital, was arrested the day after the victim was found and was formally charged in October 2024.The case sparked widespread protests across India, with many people taking to the streets to voice their anger over chronic violence against women and the lack of security measures to keep female doctors safe. The trial was fast-tracked due to the public outcry, but the judge refused to impose the death penalty, stating that while the crime was heinous, it was not considered "rarest of rare" to warrant capital punishment.
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The victim's parents, along with many protesters, expressed their dismay over the court's decision, believing that Roy did not act alone and that others involved in the crime have not been arrested yet. They continue to demand full justice for their daughter and have rejected the compensation awarded by the court, insisting that nothing can replace the loss of their child.The case has also reignited discussions about the safety of women in India, with activists and residents at the hospital where the incident occurred calling for more stringent measures to protect female healthcare workers. The case has parallels with the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student in Delhi, which similarly led to nationwide protests and calls for legal reforms.