Women lead historic anti-rape night protest in Kolkata; vandalism marks RG Kar Hospital where victim was murdered

The protest in Kolkata, titled 'Reclaim The Night', began at 11.55 pm before the Independence Day midnight and continued for hours as thousands took to the streets demanding justice, freedom and safety of women at workplace. Without holding any political flag, people sang and articulated themselves in other forms. Their anger against administration and resolve to fight back was palpable.

The slogan "We Want Justice" rented the air at the crack of Independence Day night as peaceful protesters marched through the streets of the city which was shocked by the grisly rape and murder of the junior doctor during her night shift at the RG Kar Hospital last week and the alleged attempts for a cover-up and discovery of a bigger rot in the system. Women blew conch shells from homes and on the streets sounding the bugle of a movement against sexual violence. 

The case was handed over to the federal investigating agency CBI at the order of the Calcutta High Court despite the city police making an arrest of a civic volunteer as the main accused amid suspicion that there were more people behind the brutal crime.

The protest was simultaneously staged across the nation with New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, among other cities, joining the stir. Indians, especially Bengalis, living in different parts of the world also staged protests as reports poured in from places like Toronto.

Researcher Rimjhim Sinha, who first initiated the protest through a social media post, said at one of the largest gatherings in south Kolkata's Jadavpur: "This protest is a platform to express our hearts and to think independently. We will do constructive criticism of the problem. We want justice for the victim. However, we are also demanding a structural change in the country."

"Today is also the night for women to celebrate their freedom," she said while addressing the gathering at Jadavpur 8B Bus Stand depot outside the Jadavpur University.

Several Tollywood celebrities, many of them critics of the Mamata Banerjee government and many known to be close to power, also joined the protest.

Actors and filmmakers like Subhasree Ganguly (whose husband Raj Chakraborty is a ruling Trinamool MLA), Arindam Sil, Sudipta Chakraborty, Bidipta Chakraborty, Chaiti Ghoshal, Roopa Ganguly, Parno Mittra, joined the rally in Jadavpur where the crowd was seen walking from 8B Bus Stand to Jadavpur Police Station, demanding a safer city for women and justice for the victim.

Also Read: LIVE BLOG: Relcaim The Night: India's largest anti-rape people's protest churns Kolkata and Bengal

Similar protests were seen in the Academy of Fine Arts and Behala where a large number of people gathered demanding justice.

Speaking to IBNS, Sunita Kar, a social activist, said: "Women have gathered in different corners of the city today to ensure they can move around the city peacefully and fearlessly. We also want justice for the female doctor."

A Take Back the Night was first staged in the US city of Philadelphia in 1975 when microbiologist Susan Alexander Speeth was stabbed to death when she was returning from her work at night.

Meanwhile, reports of protests by Bengali diaspora poured in from abroad in cities like Toronto in Canada and New York (Times Square) in the US. 

The Bengali diaspora at Masseygrove Park in the west end of the city of Toronto protested against the West Bengal government’s complete disregard for women safety. 

Vandalism at RG Kar Hospital

While the city was witnessing an unprecedented demonstrations led by women, a massive vandalism occurred at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the medical institute where the PG trainee doctor was found raped and murdered under mysterious circumstances.

According to local media, the Emergency department of the hospital was ransacked by miscreants who suddenly barged into the premises and resorted to violence amid a peaceful protest. 

The agitating doctors fled the scene while media personnel were attacked.

The miscreants vandalised the stage where the doctors' protest was taking place. They even overturned the police vehicles turning the area into a battleground.

Some police personnel also received injuries. The police had to resort to using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Vulture Politics, says a cornered Mamata Banerjee 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is facing the ire of the people, Wednesday said the state police will assist the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in all manners to ensure the highest punishment for the perpetrators but was quick to slam the opposition parties for 'indulging in vulture politics.'

Speaking at an event in Kolkata, Banerjee said her government was prompt in intervening in the RG Kar incident and ensured that correct steps were being taken for a thorough investigation.

"What didn't I do? The moment I heard about the crime, I was in constant communication with the Police Commissioner as I was in Jhargram. On return, I visited the family members and assured them that the highest punishment would be awarded to the perpetrator. We arrested the culprit within 12 hours," she said.

The State Police will assist the CBI in every possible manner to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice, she said.

She affirmed her continued support towards the family of the victim and called for capital punishment to be meted out to the culprit.

However, the Bengal Chief Minister did not spare the Opposition Parties and lashed out at them for organising protests and criticising her government over the handling of the investigation.

"Instead of praying for the departed soul, offering support to the victim's family in their hour of need, or taking a collective stand against social malice, the Opposition Parties have been indulging in vulture politics. Those who politicise such tragedies have no moral compass," Banerjee said.

"I have no lust for power. I want to work towards justice till my last breath. CPI(M), BJP are trying to organise Bangladesh-like protests to capture power in West Bengal," the Trinamool Congress supremo said as she referred to Sheikh Hasina's ouster from Bangladesh following violent protests.

Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and her government were ousted from power recently amid violent protests which were first initiated by students against a quota system in the government jobs but later turned into a massive demonstration against the former rulers.

The RG Kar horror

The trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which is located in North Kolkata's Belgachia area.

She was found in a half naked state with multiple injuries in the whole body from neck and eyes to private parts. The parents were initially told by the hospital that their daughter committed suicide.

One person, a civic volunteer, has been arrested in connection with the case but protesting students suspect more people are involved in the crime.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered controversial RG Kar principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who was appointed as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College within hours of his resignation as the head of RG Kar Medical College, to go on a long leave, coming down heavily on the role of the state government in trying to protect him.

(Reporting by Supriyo Hazra/Souvik Ghosh/Deepayan Sinha/Paraj Chakraborty. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)