Women reclaim night Kolkata in historic anti-rape protest demanding justice for murder of young doctor in hospital

Tens and thousands of women, along with men, seized the streets of Kolkata and locations across West Bengal on Wednesday late night to reclaim the public spaces as protests roil the eastern Indian state following the recent rape and murder of a trainee doctor on the premises of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and fears of an investigational cover-up.

The protest in Kolkata, titled ‘Reclaim The Night’, began at 11.55 pm (August 14) on the intervening night of the Independence Day and continued for hours as thousands took to the streets demanding justice, freedom and safety of women at workplace.

Without holding any political flag, people sang and articulated themselves in various forms. Their anger against administration and resolve to fight back was palpable.

The slogan “We Want Justice” rented the air of Independence Day midnight as peaceful protesters marched through the streets of the city which was shocked by the grisly rape and murder of the junior doctor during her night shift at the RG Kar Hospital last week and the alleged attempts for a cover-up and discovery of a bigger rot in the system.

The case was earlier handed over to the federal investigating agency CBI at the order of the Calcutta High Court despite the city police making an arrest of a civic volunteer as the main accused amid suspicion that there were more people behind the brutal crime.

The protest was simultaneously staged across the nation with New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, among other cities, joining the stir. Indians, especially Bengalis, living in different parts of the world also staged protests as reports poured in from cities like Toronto.

Researcher Rimjhim Sinha, who first initiated the protest through a social media post, said at one of the largest gatherings in south Kolkata’s Jadavpur: “This protest is a platform to express our hearts and to think independently. We will do constructive criticism of the problem. We want justice for the victim. However, we are also demanding a structural change in the country.”

“Today is also the night for women to celebrate their freedom,” she said while addressing the gathering at Jadavpur 8B Bus Stand depot outside the Jadavpur University.

Several Bengali film industry celebrities, many of them critics of the Mamata Banerjee government and many known to be close to power, also joined the protest even though people’s anger against the movie stars and intellectuals was rising through social media posts.

Actors and filmmakers like Subhasree Ganguly (whose filmmaker husband is a ruling Trinamool Congress MLA), Arindam Sil, Sudipta Chakraborty, Bidipta Chakraborty, Chaiti Ghoshal, Roopa Ganguly, Parno Mittra, joined the rally in Jadavpur where the crowd was seen walking from 8B Bus Stand to Jadavpur Police Station, demanding a safer city for women and justice for the victim.

Similar protests were seen in the Academy of Fine Arts and Behala where a large number of people gathered demanding justice.

Speaking to IBNS, Sunita Kar, a social activist, said: “Women have gathered in different corners of the city today to ensure they can move around the city peacefully and fearlessly. We also want justice for the female doctor.”

A Take Back the Night was first staged in the US city of Philadelphia in 1975 when microbiologist Susan Alexander Speeth was stabbed to death when she was returning from her work at night.

Vandalism at RG Kar Hospital

While the city was witnessing an unprecedented demonstrations led by women, a massive vandalism occurred at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the medical institute where the PG trainee doctor was found raped and murdered under mysterious circumstances.

According to local media, the Emergency department of the hospital was ransacked by miscreants who suddenly barged into the Emergency building and resorted to violence amid a peaceful protest.

The agitating doctors fled the scene while media personnel were attacked.

The miscreants vandalised the stage where the doctors’ protest was taking place. They even overturned the police vehicles turning the area into a battleground.

Some police personnel also received injuries. The police had to resort to using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Vulture Politics, says Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is facing the ire of the people, Wednesday said the state police will assist the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in all manners to ensure the highest punishment for the perpetrators but was quick to slam the opposition parties for ‘indulging in vulture politics.’

Speaking at an event in Kolkata, Banerjee said her government was prompt in intervening in the RG Kar incident and ensured that correct steps were being taken for a thorough investigation.

“What didn’t I do? The moment I heard about the crime, I was in constant communication with the Police Commissioner as I was in Jhargram. On return, I visited the family members and assured them that the highest punishment would be awarded to the perpetrator. We arrested the culprit within 12 hours,” she said.

The State Police will assist the CBI in every possible manner to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice, she said.

She affirmed her continued support towards the family of the victim and called for capital punishment to be meted out to the culprit.

However, the Bengal Chief Minister did not spare the Opposition Parties and lashed out at them for organising protests and criticising her government over the handling of the investigation.

“Instead of praying for the departed soul, offering support to the victim’s family in their hour of need, or taking a collective stand against social malice, the Opposition Parties have been indulging in vulture politics. Those who politicise such tragedies have no moral compass,” Banerjee said.

“I have no lust for power. I want to work towards justice till my last breath. CPI(M), BJP are trying to organise Bangladesh-like protests to capture power in West Bengal,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said as she referred to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from Bangladesh following violent protests.

The RG Kar horror

The trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which is located in North Kolkata’s Belgachia area.
She was found in a half naked state with multiple injuries in the whole body from neck and eyes to private parts. The parents were initially told by the hospital that their daughter committed suicide.

One person, a civic volunteer, has been arrested in connection with the case but protesting students suspect more people are involved in the rape and murder.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered controversial RG Kar principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who was appointed as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College within hours of his resignation as the head of RG Kar Medical College, to go on a long leave, coming down heavily on the role of the state government in trying to protect him.