West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her deep sorrow and solidarity with the family of a trainee doctor who was sexually assaulted and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. In a post on X, Banerjee dedicated the foundation day of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad to the victim.
“Today, on the foundation day of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, I dedicate it to our sister, whom we mourn the tragic loss of at RG Kar Hospital a few days ago. We extend our heartfelt condolences and demand immediate justice for this incident. Our hearts go out to all women who have been victims of such inhuman acts. Sorry,” she wrote in Bengali.
Banerjee also highlighted the importance of the role of students and youth in society, urging them to inspire change and remain committed to a brighter future. “It is the task of the student community to awaken society and culture, and inspire everyone with the promise of a new day. My appeal to all of them today is to stay motivated, stay committed. My dear students, stay well, stay healthy, and stay dedicated to a bright future,” she added.
In response to the incident and ongoing tensions, the BJP called for a 12-hour “Bengal Bandh” to protest against the police crackdown on their peaceful demonstration, “Nabanna Abhijan,” a march to the state secretariat on Tuesday. The rally, which began from College Square in Kolkata, saw heightened security around the West Bengal state secretariat and clashes between protestors and police at Santragachi in Howrah. Police used water cannons, lathi-charges, and tear gas to disperse the crowd after protestors broke barricades and clashed with officers.
Following these events, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) criticized the BJP’s actions in a post on X, describing them as a “conspiracy” and a “FATAL ATTACK on Bengal.” The rape and murder of the trainee doctor have sparked nationwide outrage, leading to several protests demanding justice for the victim. The doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of the hospital on August 9.
