Ground Zero Kolkata: Indian city to witness historic 'seize the night' protest against rape to usher in Independence Day

As the rape and murder of 31-year-old lady trainee doctor at Kolkata's state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and its alleged cover-up triggered a tsunami of anger against the authorities, women across West Bengal are asking each other on social media- I am there, are you?

Well, they are referring to what is billed to be India's biggest anti-rape street protest at 1130 pm on Wednesday.

From politically volatile Jadavpur and intellectually and culturally stimulating College Street and Akademi campus and middle-class neighbourhoods like Behala to Santiniketan, the abode of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's free learning, Bengal is all set to send a loud and clear message- stop rape.

Those not being able to hit the street have been urged to blow conch shells at 1130 pm from home to make their voice of protest and anger heard.

With angry posts and flyers on the protest roadmap and gathering breaking the social media timelines, at exactly half an hour before the country ushed in into the 78th Independence Day at midnight, Kolkata seems to be remembered as the ground zero of anti-rape protests since the Nirbhaya gangrape outrage of 2012.

The entire state of West Bengal (ruled by the Trinamool Congress blamed for 'shielding the real culprits'), including the capital city Kolkata, is set to take over the public space at exactly 1130 pm to reclaim the women's right to safety and security.

Though women on social media initially gave a call to hold the march at three locations in Kolkata- namely Jadavpur 8B Bus Stand, Academy and College Street- supporters poured in from across the state transforming what was a sporadic protest into a mass movement.

Apart from several locations in Kolkata, other districts of the state as well as top tier Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore as well as Canada's Toronto have joined in the campaign to protest against rape and sexual violence against women, days after the RG Kar incident sent shockwaves across the nation.

"The Night is Ours," the slogan reads as women in Bengali give a call to vigil at night demanding their safety and freedom.

Though the state's ruling party, Trinamool Congress, is desperate to label the protest as a political agenda fulfilling event, residents of Kolkata and neighbouring districts have strongly rejected the narrative.

Anindita Sengupta, a professor in Economics, wrote on Facebook, "I'm hearing that in some places, gatherings of women are being opposed, saying that these gatherings are taking place according to the plan of the CPM (Communist Party of India (Marxist).

"I can say with certainty about the gathering in our neighborhood that we will not allow anyone to join our procession with any kind of political flag."

The protests have been supported by prominent personalities including actors, singers who have pledged to join the movement of reclaiming the night.

Bengali film veterans like Rituparna Sengupta and Swastika Mukherjee are among the leading personalities, who have lent their support to the campaign.

Swastika wrote on Facebook, "Take to the streets to protest against sexual harassment in the workplace and educational institutions. Everyone is welcome/ Join in groups. We demand swift justice for the rape and murder at R.G. Kar Medical College."

About the RG Kar incident that triggered widespread protests

The 31-year-old medical student was allegedly raped and murdered at the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which is located in North Kolkata's Belgachia area, last week.

Though the civic volunteer has been arrested in connection with the case, protesting students, who went for ceasework across the state, suspect more people are involved in the case. The authorities, including the hospital, are accused of evidence tampering before the CBI steps in.

Social media is also rife with posts on how the ruling Trinamool Congress women MPs are silent on the issue since the news broke.

Now former RG Kar College principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who resigned after the students' protests, had reportedly stirred a controversy by passing the blame to the victim itself.

The administration has come under the scanner as the victim's parents claimed they were initially told that the 31-year-old committed suicide.

However, the autopsy report claimed she had multiple injuries to her body and some doctors even suspect it was gangrape going by the incident medically.

Though West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed she had no objection to the CBI probe, protesters and netizens slammed her for giving a seven-day deadline to police to wrap up the investigation before handing over the matter to the central probe agency.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday snubbed the Chief Minister's deadline and handed over the case to the CBI, which will probe into the matter under the monitoring of the judiciary.

The accused civic volunteer was on Wednesday handed over to the CBI by police.