New Delhi, December 14, 2024: The UPES School of Law has signed a memorandum of understanding with BTG Advaya for Setu, a platform that enables access to justice through powerful conversational AI solutions. This innovative collaboration marks a significant milestone in utilising academic expertise to tackle critical societal challenges. SETU aspires to facilitate easy access to justice by integrating conversational AI tools with trusted and well curated legal information sources; and create awareness.
The UPES School of Law is recognised as one of India’s premier law schools, ranked as the 4th best private law school in India by BW Legal World Rankings 2024 and with an all-India rank of 28 as per the NIRF Rankings 2024. While partner, BTG Advaya, is a disputes and transactional law firm with best-of-breed technical expertise and an unrelenting commitment to excellence.
The collaboration aims to ensure that SETU reaches the last mile of society, engaging students and faculty members of the UPES School of Law as the human intervention in curating the AI responses and to act as ambassadors. These ambassadors will play a crucial role in researching, curating, and validating legal information for the AI-powered chatbot, ensuring that it remains a reliable and accessible resource for all users.
Dr. Abhishek Sinha, Dean, School of Law and Head of International Affairs, UPES said, “At the UPES School of Law, we believe in leveraging innovation to create meaningful societal impact. Our collaboration with BTG Advaya on Project SETU exemplifies this commitment by integrating cutting-edge AI-powered legal technology to bridge the gap in access to justice.”
The long-term vision includes establishing an incubation centre or a fellowship program at UPES, further solidifying this initiative’s impact.
This collaboration is a crucial step in bridging the gap between academia and legal technology. It shows the commitment of UPES towards building a better tomorrow, in which disruptive technology like AI will play a quintessential role.
Bangladesh police have arrested six suspects in connection with the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chittagong city during a clash between police and followers of arrested Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, media reports said.
Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed during a clash between protesters and police outside a court in Chittagong where Chinnmoy Krishna Das was presented. Photo Courtesy: Dr. Shafiqur Rahman X page
The six were identified through video footage, The Daily Star reported quoting the press wing of the Chief Adviser’s office.
The police also detained 21 people for vandalising and assaulting cops during Tuesday’s clash outside the Chittagong court where the arrested ISKCON leader was presented.
According to reports, police resorted to lathi-charge and clashed with the protesting followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das outside the court after the Hindu monk’s bail plea was rejected.
The lawyer sustained severe injuries during the clash and was rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where the doctors pronounced him dead.
At least 10 people were reportedly injured during the clash.
Lawyers demand justice for Saiful Islam Alif
A large number of lawyers demonstrated in Dhaka over the killing of Saiful Islam Alif and demanded justice for him.
More than 200 lawyers participated in the demonstration and gave a 24-hour deadline to authorities to arrest those involved in the incident.
They warned that court and other legal operations would be disrupted if their demands were not met.
Advocate Syed Nazrul Islam told Dhaka Tribune: “Identified assailants have murdered one of our own. They must be brought to justice within 24 hours. If not, we will take necessary actions as a united body, and all courts across the country will cease operations.”
Chittagong witnessing demonstrations
A large number of people from different sections of society protested in Chittagong city and demanded a trial for those involved in the killing of the lawyer.
The protest began around 12:00pm at the Tigerpass intersection in Chattogram city, reported The Daily Star.
Tasnimul Hasan Jaki, Saiful’s nephew, told the newspaper, “We didn’t know anything about the incident until we received a call from Chittagong Medical College Hospital around 3:45pm. By the time we reached the hospital, he was already dead.”
Arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das
Earlier on Tuesday, the Bangladeshi court sent Chinmoy Krishna Das, who has been arrested on multiple charges including sedition, to prison after rejecting his bail plea, triggering protests from the minority community and his followers.
On Monday, when Brahmachari was leaving the country, he was stopped by the Bangladeshi authorities and was taken to a police station.
Amid protests against his arrest, the Hindu minority leader was presented before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of the Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.
India reacts to Hindu monk’s arrest
India has reacted to the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities in the South Asian country reeling under chaos since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.
The Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over the arrest of the Hindu monk.
“We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh,” MEA said in a statement.
‘Aaj phone nahi kiya, sab theek thak hai beta’ (You didn’t call today, is everything okay?) — Harshita Brella’s 55-year-old father Sabir Brella breaks into tears as he looks at his last message to his daughter. The body of 24-year-old Harshita was recovered from the boot of a car in east London on November 14. The car, which belongs to her husband Pankaj Lamba, was parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford.
The Brella family has claimed that it was a planned murder as Pankaj managed to flee to India just a day after brutally killing the woman.
Harshita’s maternal uncle Sandeep Ahlawat said they tried to approach the UK Embassy in Delhi to seek their help in the case, but they were not allowed to enter the premises.
It’s been over 10 days since Harshita’s death, but the family still doesn’t know about any developments in the case, he said.
We don’t know when we would receive her body here in India, Ahlawat said.
Showing photos of Harshita’s childhood to a recent one where she had slap marks on her face, Sabir said, “Pankaj came back to India after killing her. I request Indian agencies and the government to intervene and arrest him.”
(Left) Harshita’s husband and prime suspect, 23-year-old Pankaj Lamba. (Right) The vehicle used to transport the victim’s body. Photo courtesy: www.northants.police.uk
UK’s Northamptonshire Police has launched an international manhunt for Pankaj, whom they suspect of murdering his wife earlier this month at her home in Corby before driving her lifeless body to London, some 145 km away from their house, and fleeing the country after abandoning the car.
Talking about his last WhatsApp message to his daughter, Sabir said she did not reply because she was no more then.
Her elder sister Sonia Dabas told PTI, “We had the last video call with Harshita on November 10 when she told us that she was preparing food for Pankaj who was coming over for dinner.”
“From the next day her phone was not reachable. We had a feeling that Pankaj had killed her by then,” she said.
Sonia said, “My parents are completely broken down since we got the tragic news. We have a hope from our government in India to intervene and get justice for my sister.”
It appears to be a planned murder as Pankaj managed to return to India just a day after killing her.
“We have proof of him coming back to India, which we have told to London police. Here, no one is helping us. We have also approached our local police and filed a complaint of dowry harassment against Pankaj and her parents,” Sonia said.
CCTV images of the suspect release by the police. Photo courtesy: www.northants.police.uk
Pankaj, a resident of Haryana’s Jhajjar and Harshita, of Delhi’s Palam, got married in March this year and moved to London.
“It was an arranged marriage. Pankaj’s uncle, who is in Delhi Police, told us that he works in a private company but later turned out to be a security guard in London,” Sonia said.
She further said that Pankaj and his family used to harass Harshita for dowry.
“Pankaj used to beat her and force her to get money. Due to the regular fights, she started living separately and working in a warehouse. Despite living separately, he would handle her bank accounts.”
“With a hope that some day things will become normal, my daughter kept fulfilling his demand, unknowingly that this would be the end,” her father, Brella said.
The Barella family said they got the information about her death when they got a call from Delhi Police on November 15.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna takes oath as CJI. Photo Courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video
Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Monday took oath as the new Chief Justice of India, succeeding Justice DY Chandrachud.
Justice Khanna became the country’s 51st CJI.
He was recommended by Justice Chandrachud, who retired as the CJI on November 10 at the age of 65.
Justice Khanna will remain in office till May 13, 2025.
The new CJI, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2019, has been a part of benches that heard several politically-sensitive cases.
Justice Khanna was a part of the bench that granted bail to then Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo, Arvind Kejriwal, in the liquor policy case earlier this year.
He was also a part of the Constitutional benches that heard the cases like Article 370 abrogation and electoral bonds.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the status report of the RG Kar rape-murder case provided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is “worse” and “really disturbing” stating that the probe agency will be given more time “to unearth the truth”.
A three-judge bench led by the CJI is hearing the high-profile RG Kar rape-murder case. Photo courtesy: IBNS
“What the CBI has revealed in the report is worse, really disturbing… what you are flagging is of utmost concern, we ourselves are concerned, CBI has flagged it for us..we are ourselves disturbed by what we have read,” Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said during the third hearing of the case which is under the scanner of the entire nation.
A three-judge bench led by the CJI said the CBI is not “sleeping over” the probe and the investigating agency has responded to the issues that the court has flagged.
The CJI said as quoted by Live Law, “Making a disclosure today of what the CBI is investigating will jeopardise the process, the line which is taken by the CBI is to unearth the truth.. the SHO (Station House Officer who was the officer-incharge during the discovery of the crime) himself has been arrested… CBI has responded specifically to the issues we have raised, including whether the challan in the statutory form was submitted along with the postmortem…
“CBI is also exploring the possibility of whether the scene of the crime was tampered with, evidence was destroyed, whether there was the complicity of other persons in failing to report the crime etc…”
“The CBI, apart from performing its independent investigation, is also addressing the issues we raised. There is still time to complete the investigation. We have to give CBI adequate time, they are not sleeping over. To put any time limit will be to dislocate the investigation…They are required to be given time to unearth the truth,” the CJI added.
Contrary to what CBI has claimed in the court, State’s counsel advocate Kapil Sibal said the full video records have been handed over to the central probe agency.
“Mr SG, can you not summon Kolkata police.. and get the footage…you need to see whether hash value changed or not.. CBI has to ensure this.. your investigating officer has to ensure this…make sure that the CBI seizes the entire DVR and footage, we hope that the CBI does it,” the CJI said as quoted by Live Law.
Towards the end of the hearing, Sibal told the court that the challan of post-mortem was not used since 1997.
Rejecting Sibal’s citation, the CJI said, ” We don’t buy the explanation, once there is a statutory form, you can’t say that it was not used.”
Meanwhile, prominent legal mind Indira Jaising is representing the protesting junior doctors now in the Supreme Court. She told the court that the agitators are keen to quit cease-work but they are worried about the safety and security at hospitals.
Advocate Jaising said the call on quitting cease-work will be taken by the junior doctors only after a General Body.
Advocate Kapil Sibal, the counsel for West Bengal state, pleaded before the CJI that the junior doctors should resume work.
“Ceasework must stop now,” Sibal said.
On when junior doctors will be able to return to work, Jaising said, “I can’t give a date.”
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation at Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud’s Ganpati Puja has sparked adverse reactions from different quarters with the opposition leaders questioning the independence of the judiciary even as civil society protesters are critical of the CJI over the proceedings of the Kolkata hospital rape and murder.
PM Modi participates at Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud’s Ganpati Puja. Photo courtesy: Narendra Modi X handle
The CJI and his wife were seen welcoming Modi to their residence in a video.
“Joined Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI, Justice DY Chandrachud Ji. May Bhagwan Shri Ganesh bless us all with happiness, prosperity and wonderful health,” PM Modi shared in a post.
Joined Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI, Justice DY Chandrachud Ji.
May Bhagwan Shri Ganesh bless us all with happiness, prosperity and wonderful health. pic.twitter.com/dfWlR7elky
The Prime Minister was seen wearing a traditional Maharashtrian cap. He even performed aarti of the Lord Ganesha flanked by DY Chandrachud and his wife.
The PM’s attendance at the CJI’s residence came amid a massive protest against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the RG Kar rape and murder for justice with the anger now directed against the Supreme Court. The case is being heard by the CJI with the proceedings of the hearing and postponements outraging the protesters in Kolkata who are largely from the civil society besides the doctors’ community. The protesting junior doctors in Kolkata also defied the CJI’s deadline to join duty or face the state government action.
Taking a dig, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote on X, “Okay. After the festivities are over hopefully CJI will deem fit and be slightly freer to conclude the hearing on Maharashtra and the blatant disregard of Article 10 of the Constitution in Maharashtra. Oh wait, elections round the corner anyway, it can be adjourned for another day.”
Okay. After the festivities are over hopefully CJI will deem fit and be slightly freer to conclude the hearing on Maharashtra and the blatant disregard of Article 10 of the Constitution in Maharashtra. Oh wait, elections round the corner anyway, it can be adjourned for another… https://t.co/tw0C1Smr5s
Countering Chaturvedi, Shehzad Poonwalla, the spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said, “Attending Ganesh Pooja is no crime. On many occasions judiciary and politicians share stage on auspicious functions, marriages, programs – but if PM attends it at house of CJI , Uddhav Sena MP doubts integrity of CJI & SC. Congress ecosystem attacks SC like Rahul Gandhi did in past. It’s shameful contempt of court & abusing judiciary.”
Attending Ganesh Pooja is no crime On many occasions judiciary and politicians share stage
On auspicious functions, marriages, programs – but if PM attends it at house of CJI , Uddhav Sena MP doubts integrity of CJI & SC. Congress ecosystem attacks SC like Rahul Gandhi did in… pic.twitter.com/ALwORw10GE
Separation of powers between executive and judiciary compromised?
Senior advocate and former Additional Solicitor General, Indira Jaising, slammed CJI Chandrachud for “compromising” the separation of powers between the executive and judiciary.
Advocate Jaising wrote on X, “Chief Justice of India has compromised the separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary. Lost all confidence in the independence of the CJI . The SCBA must condemn this publicly displayed compromise of Independence of the CJI from the Executive.”
Chief Justice of India has compromised the separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary. Lost all confidence in the independence of the CJI . The SCBA must condemn this publicly displayed compromise of Independence of the CJI from the Executive @KapilSibalhttps://t.co/UXoIxVxaJt
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan said on X, “Shocking that CJI Chandrachud allowed Modi to visit him at his residence for a private meeting. Sends a very bad signal to the judiciary which is tasked with the responsibility of protecting fundamental right of citizens from the executive & ensuring that the govt acts within bounds of Constitution. That is why there has to be an arms length separation between the executive & judiciary.”
Shocking that CJI Chandrachud allowed Modi to visit him at his residence for a private meeting. Sends a very bad signal to the judiciary which is tasked with the responsibility of protecting fundamental right of citizens from the executive & ensuring that the govt acts within… https://t.co/mstxulCI2P
Indian actress Minu Muneer accuses 4 co-actors of sexual harassment. Photo Courtesy: Minu Muneer Facebook page
Indian actress Minu Muneer has accused her four actors of sexual harassment amid the shocking revelations of abuse of women prevalent in the industry made by the Justice Hema Committee report, media reports said.
In a Facebook post, Muneer accused Mukesh, Maniyanpiilla Raju, Idavela Babu and Jayasurya of physical and verbal abuse on the set of a 2013 film.
“In 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these individuals while working on a project. I tried to cooperate and continue working, but the abuse became unbearable. As a result, I was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai.
“I had spoken out against the abuse in a newspaper article. I am now seeking justice and accountability for the trauma and suffering I endured. I request your assistance in taking action against them for their heinous actions,” the actress wrote on Facebook.
Later speaking to NDTV, Muneer said, “I had a bitter experience while shooting for a film. I had gone to the toilet and when I came out, Jayasurya hugged me from behind and kissed me without my consent. I was shocked and I ran out.”
In another incident, Muneer claimed she had approached Association of Malayalam Movie Artists secretary Idavela Babu to apply for membership.
Muneer said she was physically abused by Idavela Babu at his flat where she was called on the pretense of the membership application.
Muneer claimed Idavela Babu had rejected her application to become a member of the association after she turned down his advances.
Maniyanpiilla Raju, one of the accused, has demanded a probe into the allegations claiming the accusations are backed by several vested interests.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has formed a seven-member panel to probe into the allegations.
Ranjith quits Kerala Film Academy after Bengali actress trades misconduct charges against him
Malayalam director Ranjith has resigned as the chairman of Kerala Chalachitra Academy over the charges of misconduct levelled against him by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra.
Ranjith has communicated his decision to step down to state Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian.
Sreelekha Mitra, who is now at the forefront of RG Kar protests in Kolkata, alleged that Ranjith had misbehaved with her at his residence in 2009.
Sreelekha had reportedly gone there to discuss a project.
The actress claimed she felt uncomfortable by “subtle advances” by Ranjith.
Tens and thousands of women, along with men, seized the streets of Kolkata and locations across West Bengal late on Wednesday (August 14) night to reclaim the public spaces. Protests continued to 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 public outrage over an investigational cover-up.
Kolkata witnessed a massive night vigil against the rape and murder of a young doctor. Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Without holding any political flag, people sang and articulated themselves in various forms. Their anger against the administration and the resolve to fight back was palpable.
The slogan “We Want Justice” rent the air of Independence Day midnight as peaceful protesters marched through the streets of the city. All of Kolkata was shocked by the grisly rape and murder of the junior doctor during her night shift at RG Kar Hospital last week.
Kolkata Police had promptly labelled it suicide, but as the furious RG Kar doctors began an agitation, the death was revealed to be rape and murder. Since then, the plot has thickened, indicating a much bigger rot in the system.
The case was handed over to the federal investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigation (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.
Women took to the streets in the intervening night of Independence Day 2024 to protest against the culture of rape. Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
The massive protest against the RG Kar rape-murder was simultaneously staged across the nation with New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and 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 Jadavpur University, one of the top universities of India.
Several Bengali film industry celebrities, many of them critics of the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal and many known to be close to power, also joined the protest.
Public anger against the movie stars and intellectuals of West Bengal, who had been completely silent about the RG Kar rape-murder, had been rising, as evident in social media posts. The August 14 marches did see a few famous faces, but this was not a celebrity-led event at all.
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, and 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 at the central Kolkata culture hub Academy of Fine Arts and the south Kolkata area 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 [of RG Kar].”
The battle cry of “We want justice” rent the night air in Kolkata as anti-rape protesters marched. Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
A ‘Take Back the Night’ march was first staged in the US city of Philadelphia in 1975 when microbiologist Susan Alexander Speeth was stabbed to death while returning from work at night.
Vandalism at RG Kar Hospital
While the city was witnessing unprecedented demonstrations led by women, a massive vandalism drama occurred at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the medical institute where the PG trainee doctor was found raped and murdered.
According to the local media, the Emergency department of RG Kar hospital was ransacked by the miscreants, who suddenly barged into the building and resorted to rampant violence amid a peaceful protest. Kolkata Police personnel present nearby did nothing to stop the vandalism. Later, a video released by RG Kar doctors revealed how they and their patients had been attacked by the vandals. Media people at the spot were also 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 finally use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is facing the ire of the people, said on Wednesday that the state police would assist the Central Bureau of Investigation in every way to ensure the highest punishment for the perpetrators. But she was quick to slam the opposition parties for “indulging in vulture politics”.
Speaking at an event in Kolkata, the CM said that her government was prompt in intervening in the RG Kar incident and ensured that correct steps were being taken for a thorough investigation. However, her government has come under tremendous criticism from every section of society for allegedly trying to hush up the crime when the body was first discovered on the RG Kar premises.
“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,” said Mamata Banerjee.
Kolkata Police would assist the CBI in every possible manner to ensure that all those involved were brought to justice, she said.
Banerjee affirmed her continued support for the family of the victim and called for capital punishment to be meted out to the culprit.
However, the beleaguered Trinamool Congress leader lashed out at the political Opposition in West Bengal 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.
Kolkata witnessed a massive anti-rape protest against the ruling Mamata Banerjee administration. Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
The RG Kar horrorstory
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.
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.
Kolkata witnessed a massive night vigil aginst the rape and murder of a young doctor. Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
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.
Women took to the streets in the intervening night of Independence Day to protest the culture of rape. Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
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.”
We want justice, rented the night air in Kolkata as anti-rape protesters marched. Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
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.
Kolkata witnessed a massive anti-rape protest against the ruling Mamata Banerjee administration. Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
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.
Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, on Saturday, quit after protesting students surrounded the Supreme Court and demanded his resignation within an hour.
“I feel it is necessary to share a special news with you. Our chief justice has resigned few minutes back. His resignation letter has already reached at the law ministry. We will send it to the president without delay for taking necessary measures,” Law, Justice and Parliamentary affairs Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul said in a video message in his Facebook post as quoted by The Daily Star.
“We have received only the resignation letter of the chief justice. There is no update about (resignation) of others,” he added.
The protests were triggered after the Chief Justice had called a full-court hearing without any consultation with the newly-formed interim government, which is headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The court hearing was abruptly called off following the protests.
Signalling the beginning of a new era after 15 years of Sheikh Hasina’s regime, Yunus took oath as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh on Thursday.
In the last few weeks, Bangladesh witnessed deadly protests which began with students protesting against the job quota and then it slowly spiralled into a mass movement that demanded Hasina’s resignation as the Prime Minister.
The violence led to the death of over 300 people.
The showdown took a new turn when Hasina was forced to resign which led to the toppling of her government and ending her 15-year rule.
Hasina escaped to India in a helicopter.
Following Hasina’s resignation and Army’s takeover, violence further escalated with the protesters barging into the Prime Minister’s residence, bringing down tall leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s statue, looting, and setting houses and government properties on fire.
Several Hindu families and temples were allegedly attacked in the country, which was set free from Pakistan in 1971.
