What Happened: West Bengal has passed a law that could lead to the execution of rapists in response to protests following the rape and murder of a doctor, though it still needs presidential approval.
What you need to know: In response to weeks of protests demanding justice for a doctor’s rape and murder, West Bengal has passed a new law that could lead to the execution of rapists. The 31-year-old doctor’s body was found at a Kolkata hospital on August 9, sparking widespread demonstrations.
What more: While the law, which increases the punishment for rape from a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment or execution, has been approved by the state assembly, it still requires presidential approval to become law. The new legislation is symbolic as India’s criminal code is uniform nationwide, but state approval could make it an exception. The doctor’s murder led to strikes by medical professionals and large-scale rallies across India, though many doctors have returned to work.
Also: Protests in West Bengal have escalated into clashes between supporters of rival political parties, including the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The case has been compared to the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder.