Kolkata, India — In response to weeks of protests following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor, West Bengal has passed a controversial new law that could lead to the execution of rapists. The legislation, approved by the state assembly but pending presidential approval, aims to address the persistent issue of violence against women.
The doctor’s body was discovered on August 9 at a state-run hospital in Kolkata, sparking widespread outrage and demonstrations across India. The new law proposes increasing the punishment for rape from a minimum of 10 years imprisonment to either life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Although India’s criminal code is uniform across the country, this state law could become an exception if approved by the president. The legislation has garnered support from both major political parties in West Bengal: the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite the latter being a Hindu-nationalist party with national power but no local presence in the state.
The violent attack has drawn parallels to the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, known for its brutality and impact on national discussions about sexual violence. The protests have also evolved into clashes between political party supporters, although many medical professionals have resumed work following initial strikes.
