Men, women, political leaders, and celebrities across West Bengal are set to stage a large-scale protest on Wednesday evening, ahead of the 78th Independence Day, in response to the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The protest coincides with the arrival of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team in Kolkata on Wednesday morning to begin its investigation into the case. The team, which includes medical and forensic experts, will inspect the seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College where the trainee doctor’s body was found on August 9. The CBI has formed three teams to handle different aspects of the investigation.
Protesters are expected to gather at 45 locations across Bengal at midnight on Wednesday, according to The Telegraph. Organizers in various districts plan to start assembling late Wednesday night, with demonstrations continuing into Independence Day, demanding safety and freedom for women in Bengal.
A social media campaign has called on people from all walks of life to join the protest, which is being described as a call for “women’s independence on the midnight of Independence.” Participants are encouraged to carry candles and blow conch shells, as reported by The Indian Express. Gathering locations throughout Kolkata and other parts of Bengal are being widely shared, along with slogans such as “Justice for RG Kar,” “The Night is Ours,” “Reclaim the Night,” “Meyera Raat er Dhokhol Koro (Women, seize the night),” and “Meyera Raat er Dokhol Nao… Sankha Dhonite Bhoriye Dao (Women, seize the night… fill it with the sound of conch shells).”
As messages about the event spread on WhatsApp and other social media platforms from Wednesday morning, leaders from both ruling and opposition parties expressed their intent to join the protest, which remains largely apolitical.
Senior Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray condemned the rape and murder and announced his participation in the protest organized by women at midnight on Wednesday. Ray stated he would hold a personal dharna from 5 PM to 9 PM in solidarity with the protesters, although he would be unable to join them at midnight due to his age. He had earlier expressed his support on X, emphasizing that as a father and grandfather, he felt compelled to stand against the cruelty inflicted on women and urged others to join the resistance.
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered the transfer of the investigation from Kolkata Police to the CBI. Widespread agitation by junior doctors has severely impacted state healthcare services, halting the functioning of emergency and outpatient departments in most state-run hospitals.
Sanjoy Roy, the accused in the case, was handed over to the CBI by Kolkata Police after undergoing medical tests at SSKM Hospital. Two CBI officers visited Tala Police Station on Tuesday evening to collect documents related to the investigation. The court directed the city police to hand over the case diary and all other documents to the CBI by the evening of August 14.
Tollywood celebrities, including Swastika Mukherjee, Prasenjit Chatterjee, Kaushik Ganguly, and Srijit Mukherji, have also announced their participation in the protests.