In a growing wave of discontent, junior doctors took to the streets outside Boubazar Police Station on Monday evening, protesting the seizure of equipment intended for their sit-in demonstration. The incident has escalated as part of a broader protest movement that is calling attention to workplace safety, following a shocking case of sexual harassment involving a female civic volunteer at Park Street Police Station.

The protestors, chanting slogans, turned the police station premises into a stage for their demonstration. Despite the initial unrest, the situation quickly intensified as the junior doctors sat down in front of the station in defiance, refusing to disperse until their voices were heard. This protest comes in the wake of increasing concerns over safety in the workplace, particularly for women.

As if RG Kar incident was not enough, recently  when a female civic volunteer accused a sub-inspector at Park Street Police Station of sexually harassing her. According to the volunteer’s complaint, the officer lured her into an upstairs room at the station, under the pretext of giving her a dress for the Durga Puja festivities. Once inside, she alleged, the officer sexually assaulted her.

What makes the case even more troubling is that when the civic volunteer attempted to file a formal complaint, there were immediate attempts to suppress the matter, reflecting a troubling culture of silencing victims. This blatant disregard for a female employee’s safety, especially within a police station, has prompted widespread anger and raised serious concerns about the protection of women in workplaces across various sectors.

On Monday, protestors from the Left parties and their supporters gathered outside Park Street Police Station, demanding justice for the civic volunteer. The demonstrators, led by an eight-member delegation, met with the officer-in-charge (OC) to submit a deputation outlining their concerns and demanding swift action.

Poulabi Majumdar, a protestor, emphasized the gravity of the situation. After meeting with the police, she stated, “The OC has informed us that the female civic volunteer is currently on leave and will return to duty when she is ready. But given what we’ve seen in recent months, we can’t trust the police to ensure her safety or take proper action. We will closely monitor the investigation to make sure it is conducted fairly and that the guilty are held accountable.

This incident highlights a growing sense of insecurity among employees, particularly women, in their workplaces. The fact that such an event took place within a police station – a place that should guarantee protection and uphold the law – sends a chilling message. If women are not safe within the confines of institutions meant to protect them, it raises questions about the broader safety of individuals in workplaces across sectors.

The protest by junior doctors, spurred by the harassment case, underscores the urgency of addressing workplace safety issues. These doctors, who serve on the frontlines of healthcare, have now found themselves having to protest not just for their right to conduct peaceful demonstrations but for the broader issue of workplace security and the assurance that such incidents of harassment and injustice will not be tolerated.

In a country where workplace harassment cases are often swept under the rug, the Park Street incident is a reminder of the systemic problems that continue to plague workplace environments. The ongoing protests aim not only to bring attention to the specific case of the civic volunteer but to make it clear that no one seems to be safe at their workplace unless substantial reforms are introduced to protect employees, especially women, from harassment and abuse.