Protest outside Indian court as doctor's rapist and killer gets life sentence

Protests erupted outside a Kolkata court on Monday after Sanjoy Roy, 33, was sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at a government hospital in August 2024.

The brutal crime, which sparked widespread outrage and hospital strikes across India, highlighted growing concerns over the safety of healthcare workers. Roy, a hospital volunteer, was arrested a day after the victim’s bloodied body was discovered. Despite the family’s demand for the death penalty, the judge ruled that the case did not qualify for capital punishment.

Roy, who denies the charges, plans to appeal. The case has drawn comparisons to the 2012 Delhi gang rape, fueling ongoing protests for better protection of women and medical staff in India. The victim’s family expressed shock at the sentence, vowing to continue their fight for justice.