As part of the “Reclaim the Night” movement, thousands of people demonstrated in Kolkata on Sunday night against the rape and death of a 31-year-old postgraduate doctor at RG Kar Medical College. The demonstration took place one month after the August 9 tragedy, which has provoked intense public indignation. Before the next day’s Supreme Court hearing on the case, demonstrators prayed for justice.
People from various walks of life, including professionals, homemakers, students, and traders, marched in solidarity during the protests. Notably, the protests were apolitical, demonstrating the widespread support for justice in this instance. A 15-kilometer human chain of solidarity was made from the victim’s Sodepur residence to Shyambazar, which is close to RG Kar Medical College.
The “Reclaim the Night” campaign was started by researcher Rimjhim Sinha, who demanded structural adjustments to guarantee everyone’s safety. She said she hoped for a just judicial investigation into the matter and that the strong public outcry demonstrated people’s genuine concerns for justice and safety. Street acts, banners, posters, black balloons, and other symbolic actions were all part of the protests.
In a different area of the city, the Gariahat district in south Kolkata, former students from fifty-two schools organized protests, painted the streets, and formed human chains. Filmmakers, football players from rival teams Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, and artisans also took part in the demonstrations. Notably, Santan Dinda, an artist, led a march while carrying a Durga statue, signifying the victim’s right to justice. In his statement, “We are the artists who give shape to the ten-armed goddess with clay,” he stressed the importance of artists in defending justice. Walking for justice is our obligation in honor of a Durga who we lost.”
While most of the protests were peaceful, there were several altercations where local teenagers attacked protesters in Naihati, which is 47 kilometers north of Kolkata. In response, demonstrators blocked a road, which sparked more violence.
Junior physicians, who have been on strike for a month, intend to watch the Supreme Court sessions on big screens adjacent to their campuses while keeping a careful eye on the case. Many voiced dissatisfaction with the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) delayed investigation pace and expressed optimism that the court would provide clarification. Some demonstrators expressed the belief that protests would go on regardless of the outcome, expressing the general demand for institutional change and victim justice.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
