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Tear gas fired at protesters angry at Indian doctor's murder

AFP Police use water canons to disperse activists carrying India's national flag as they march towards the state secretariat demanding the resignation of Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of the country's West Bengal state amid protests against the rape and murder of a doctor near Howrah bridge in Kolkata on August 27, 2024. AFP
Police used water cannons to disperse protesters in Kolkata on Tuesday

Police in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata have fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters demanding justice for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a state-run hospital earlier this month.

The discovery of the body of the 31-year-old sparked nationwide outrage over the crisis of violence against women.

On Tuesday, thousands marched to a government building in Kolkata, demanding the resignation of West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee.

A hospital volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime, which has now been handed over to India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after criticism of the local police's slow progress.

India police use tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters

The protesters chanted slogans and clashed with police, who used batons to disperse the crowd.

Namita Ghosh, a college student at the protest, told news agency AFP the crowd intended to "protest peacefully" before the baton charge.

A senior police official, speaking anonymously, said at least 100 protesters were arrested for "creating violence".

A series of protests have taken place since the killing on 9 August. The largest saw tens of thousands of women across West Bengal participating in the Reclaim the Night march on 14 August to demand "independence to live in freedom and without fear".

But since then, some of the protests have escalated into chaotic political rallies, with police clashing with ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demonstrators angry at the state government.

The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but an opposition party in West Bengal, has accused Ms Banerjee's government of fostering an unsafe environment for women, which they claim enabled crimes like the doctor's murder.

Her half-naked body bearing extensive injuries was discovered in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College, where she had reportedly gone to rest during her shift.

India's Supreme Court has said the incident had "shocked the conscience of the nation" and criticised authorities for their handling of the investigation.

Ms Banerjee's government has announced a slew of measures for women's safety at workplaces, including designated retiring rooms and CCTV-monitored "safe zones" at state-run hospitals.

More incidents of rape have made headlines in India since the woman's death and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that "monstrous behaviour against women should be severely and quickly punished".