By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-20 10:21:59 | Updated at 2025-01-20 13:00:28
2 hours ago
An Indian court on Monday sentenced a police volunteer to life in prison after finding him guilty in the rape and killing of a trainee doctor last year, a crime that sparked nationwide protests over inadequate safety for women and led to a speedy trial in the country’s slow-moving justice system.
Sanjay Roy, 33, who has consistently maintained his innocence, can appeal the judgment in a higher court.
The killing of the 31-year-old doctor while she was on duty at a hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata highlighted the chronic issue of violence against women in the country. Police discovered the woman’s bloodied body at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital’s seminar hall last August 9. An autopsy found she had been strangled and sexually assaulted.
The case was initially investigated by Kolkata police but later the court handed over the probe to federal investigators after state government officers were accused of mishandling the investigation.
After the assault, doctors and medical students across India held protests and rallies demanding better security. Thousands of women also protested in the streets demanding swift justice for the victim.
