Saving lives was the childhood dream for 28-year-old Indian doctor Radhika, but after the brutal rape and murder of a colleague her own safety has increasingly become a top concern.

Earlier this month, at the government-run hospital where Radhika works in the eastern city of Kolkata, the battered and bloodied body of a 31-year-old woman doctor was found, sparking outrage.

One man has been detained, but the attack has focused anger on the lack of measures for female doctors to work without fear, and triggered protests and medical strikes.

"I was on night duty just two days before this incident," Radhika said at Kolkata's R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

"What she did is what any of us do -– resting whenever, wherever we can".

The murdered doctor -- who has not been formally named but is being called "Abhaya", or "fearless" by protesters -- was found in the teaching hospital's seminar hall, suggesting she had gone there for a break during a long shift.

Radhika, whose name has been changed for fear of repercussions at her work, said conditions such as long working hours -- with barely any time to eat or rest -- were not unusual.

"This could have been any of us, and this still can be any of us," she added.