NEW DELHI - Tens of thousands of women took to the streets across India on Aug 14 demanding justice for the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at a prominent state-run hospital in Kolkata, the state capital of West Bengal.

The biggest demonstrations were held in Kolkata where women armed with placards, candles, and the national flag marked India's 78th Independence Day at midnight on Aug 14.

They demanded justice for the 31-year-old female doctor killed at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) in the eastern Indian city.

The early-morning processions on Aug 15, were a part of a series of demonstrations against the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at the hospital where she worked.

The victim — whose identity cannot be disclosed due to India’s laws protecting the identity of rape victims, even in death — went to sleep in a seminar room at the hospital on Aug 8 after a 36-hour shift.

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The next morning, her colleagues found her lifeless, partially naked body. An autopsy later revealed that she was sexually assaulted.

India’s doctors have staged protests since Aug 12, disrupting non-emergency medical services at government hospitals nationwide and affecting thousands of patients. More protests have been scheduled for Aug 15 and 16.

The Indian Medical Association, the largest national voluntary organization of physicians, announced on Aug 15 a nationwide “withdrawal of services” by doctors for 24 hours from 6 am on Aug 16.

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association, another major Indian medical union, has demanded an impartial investigation, compensation for the victim, and the implementation of a new law specifically targeting acts of violence against healthcare workers.

Protests were held at more than 100 locations across Kolkata and spread to surrounding towns in West Bengal late on Aug 14.

Many protesters posted on social media claiming that the demonstrations saw an unheralded number of women marching at night.

“We have never seen anything like this before in the city,” said Sohini Majumder, a protester from Kolkata.

Beyond Kolkata, thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities including Mumbai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, and the capital New Delhi on Aug 14.

The crowds shouted slogans such as “We want justice,” "Hang the rapist,” and “Stop violence against women.”

"I am scared after hearing about this horrific crime. We came here to demand justice because I have two daughters,” said Oindrila Basu, a protester in New Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park.

Amid nationwide protests on Aug 14, an unidentified group of 40 to 50 people attacked vehicles and vandalized patient wards at RGKMCH, Kolkata police reported on Aug 15.

During their initial investigations, Kolkata police had arrested Sanjoy Roy, a volunteer at a police post within the hospital, for his alleged involvement in the doctor’s killing.

“My men have worked day and night to collect the best evidence. We have never said that there is only one accused ... We are waiting for scientific evidence, it takes time," Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal told reporters on Aug 15 after the rampage at RGKMCH.

READ MORE: More Indian hospitals hit by doctors' protest against alleged rape, murder

On Aug 13, following a court order, the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s premier investigating agency.

Earlier, protesting doctors at RGKMCH had alleged that Kolkata police and the hospital authority were trying to cover up the incident and demanded that the CBI carry out the investigation.

“The girl who was brutalized was an on-duty doctor. The local government has failed to ensure the safety of women at a government-run institution, what hope is there? said Shreya Shaw, a postgraduate medical student at RGKMCH.

The victim was a year senior to Shreya, she said. “We all doctors are scared here. We can’t rely on the hospital security, we cannot rely on the police,” said Shreya.

“This protest will continue till the miscreants are hanged,” said Dr Sams Mushafir, another doctor at the hospital.

On Aug 15, the CBI questioned five RGKMCH officials in connection with the rape and murder of the doctor.

On the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned atrocities against women in the country during an event to mark India's Independence Day.  

Without directly mentioning the killing of the doctor, Modi said that as a society, Indians should “seriously think about the kind of atrocities which are taking place against our mothers, sisters, daughters.”

“There is anger about that in the country. Common masses are angry. I am feeling that anger,” Modi said. “Our nation, our society, and our state governments need to take that seriously. Crime against women should be investigated more urgently.”

Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has called on West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to resign over the situation in the state.

The National Human Rights Commission has assumed control of the murder case and demanded a report from the West Bengal government within two weeks.

Despite stringent laws, the government is still not doing enough for proper implementation of the law to protect women and punish attackers, India’s noted social activist Medha Patkar said.

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There is an urgent need to overhaul the law enforcement agencies across the country, Patkar said while expressing her deep shock over the alleged rape and murder of the doctor.

India's police recorded 31,516 reports of rape in 2022, a 20 percent increase from 2021, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.