Police in Kolkata, India fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters demanding the resignation of a top state minister following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. The attack on the 31-year-old doctor has sparked nationwide outrage, with similarities to the 2012 gang rape in New Delhi. A police volunteer has been arrested for the crime and the federal police have taken over the investigation. Junior doctors have refused to see non-emergency patients in protest, calling for justice for the victim and greater safety for women at hospitals. India’s Supreme Court has created a hospital safety task force and requested protesting doctors to return to work, but some have refused. More than 5,000 police officers were deployed in Kolkata and neighboring areas as protests demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister took place. The Chief Minister’s party blamed the police crackdown on opposition parties, particularly the BJP, which supports the protesting students. The state government denied accusations of trying to suppress the incident. The protests and demands for justice highlight the ongoing issue of sexual violence against women in India, despite efforts to strengthen laws and increase safety measures.
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