Despite the end of a strike called by a large doctors' association, some Indian junior doctors are continuing to remain off the job, demanding swift justice for a fellow colleague who was brutally raped and murdered in a hospital. The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of August 9 at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, triggering widespread outrage and street protests across the country.

Doctors nationwide have expressed their solidarity with the victim by staging protests, candlelight marches, and refusing to see nonemergency patients in the past week. In a powerful display of support, thousands of people took to the streets of Kolkata on Sunday evening, echoing the chants of "we want justice." These demonstrations have put immense pressure on the authorities in West Bengal state, as they grapple with containing the public outcry against this horrific crime.

Female activists have highlighted that this incident at RG Kar Hospital underscores the continued suffering of women in India, despite the implementation of tougher laws following the infamous gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student in Delhi in 2012. While India introduced significant changes to the criminal justice system, including stricter sentences, campaigners argue that not enough has been done to deter violence against women, and progress remains disappointingly slow.

In the aftermath of the recent tragedy, the Indian Medical Association, whose 24-hour strike concluded at 6am on Sunday, issued a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his intervention to ensure the safety of hospital staff. They called for the implementation of security protocols similar to those seen at airports, emphasizing the need for protection, considering that 60 percent of India's doctors are women.

Within the RG Kar Hospital, agitation and rallies have persisted for over a week. In response, the police have imposed a ban on gatherings of five or more people around the hospital premises, effective for a week from Sunday. Despite this restriction, the protesters defied the ban and continued their demonstrations until late in the day before ultimately dispersing.

The All India Residents and Junior Doctors' Joint Action Forum, on Saturday, announced their decision to extend the "nationwide cease-work" by another 72 hours. They set a deadline for the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and make arrests in connection with the crime. This continued strike has left over 6,000 trainee doctors in government hospitals in Gujarat, Modi's home state, abstaining from nonemergency medical services for the third consecutive day. However, operations in private institutes have resumed regular services.

As the country grapples with this tragedy, the voices demanding justice for the victim continue to grow louder. The persistence of the junior doctors and the widespread public support demonstrated in the streets signify a deep-rooted concern over the consistent violence suffered by women in India. The focus now lies on the actions that will be taken by the authorities to ensure justice and to address the larger issue of women's safety in the country.