In a revival of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign, hundreds of women marched through the streets of Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal on Sunday night, demanding justice for the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Despite intermittent rain, women of all ages and backgrounds gathered in various locations across the city, including Jadavpur, Garia, Behala Parnashree, Khanna, and Lake Town, chanting slogans such as “We want justice.”
Prominent figures from the Bengali film industry, including directors Arindam Sil and Kaushik Ganguly, along with actress Churni Ganguly, joined the protests, calling for justice for the victim.
In Delhi, members of resident doctors’ associations (RDA) held a candlelight march, making efforts to engage with the public and raise awareness about the incident.
The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal faced increasing pressure over its handling of the crime. The victim’s parents criticized what they saw as attempts to suppress the spontaneous public outcry, despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s previous public stance against rape.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues to investigate the case after taking over from the Kolkata police, following an order from the Calcutta High Court. As part of the investigation, the CBI conducted 3D laser mapping of the emergency ward at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and carried out psychological testing of the main accused.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the horrific rape and murder. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is scheduled to hear the case on Tuesday.
