Thousands of women marched through the night across cities in
India. That's as outrage escalated over the brutal rape
and murder of a young female doctor inside a medical
college in Kolkata. In the early hours of Thursday
morning, women demonstrated while holding posters that said reclaim
the night referring to the lack of safety for women
in India, especially after dark. This included in
the city of Kolkata where the 31 year old medic
was found dead. R we have come here to
demand justice because I have a daughter. I am
scared to send her anywhere. If she is working
during the night, I do not know what might
happen to her. I am scared to send my
daughter to study. I want her to sit at
home. She should not go anywhere and should instead
stay at home. I'm scared I'm here today because
something about this incident must be done. This injustice
must stop. The victim's colleagues said she had gone
to sleep on a seminar room floor after a marathon
36 hour shift due to a lack of resting places
. She was found dead last Friday. The women's
marches follow nationwide protest action taken by doctors which started
last week, demanding justice for the victim and safer
working conditions. Many government hospitals in cities across India
were forced to suspend all services except emergency departments.
Police said last week that a police volunteer has been
arrested in connection with the crime during India's Independence Day
ceremony on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for
strict punishment for crimes against women. He pledged that
the country and government will take this issue seriously.