Kolkata: A Kolkata man has been charged in connection with the rape and murder of a 31-year-old female doctor, an incident that has incited widespread protests across the nation and intensified discussions on violence against women.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Sanjoy Roy was arrested the day following the murder and has been in custody ever since. Charges were formally laid against him on Monday, accompanied by the submission of a confidential evidence dossier to the court. The discovery of the doctor’s bloodied body on August 9 at a government hospital in Kolkata not only provoked local but national outrage, spotlighting the persistent issue of safety for women.

Sanjoy Roy, identified by Indian media as a 33-year-old volunteer at the hospital, has been charged with the rape and murder of the trainee post-graduate doctor during her duty hours. Given the severity of the accusations, Roy could face the death penalty if convicted. The response to the attack was immediate and visceral, with doctors in Kolkata ceasing work for several weeks and tens of thousands of citizens taking to the streets in protest. The protests have largely centered on demanding better security for women working in healthcare settings.

In a significant move last month, India’s Supreme Court mandated the formation of a national task force to review and enhance the safety measures for healthcare workers, declaring that the brutality of this murder had “shocked the conscience of the nation.” The attack also drew parallels to the infamous 2012 gang rape and murder on a Delhi bus, another case that had sparked major protests and calls for reform across India.