On Wednesday night, hundreds of thousands of women across West Bengal joined in the "Reclaim the Night" campaign, demanding justice for a 31-year-old female trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered on August 9 at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
However, the campaign turned violent in Mathabhanga town when a protester was allegedly attacked by members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
In response to the growing unrest, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take decisive action to calm the public outrage stemming from the RG Kar Hospital incident.
Protest over Kolkata doctor rape-murder: 10 updates
1. In a powerful display of solidarity, residents of Kolkata turned off their lights at 9 pm and took to the streets with candles, showing unity in the fight for justice.
2. The city, shrouded in darkness except for the glow of candlelight, mourned the doctor’s tragic passing, offering unwavering support to her grieving family.
3. At precisely 9 pm, major landmarks like the Victoria Memorial and Raj Bhavan, along with homes across Kolkata and beyond, went dark as part of the protest. Governor CV Ananda Bose also lit a candle at Raj Bhavan, symbolically stating, "When light is fear, darkness is dear."
4. Governor Bose instructed Mamata Banerjee to maintain law and order, with particular attention to the safety and protection of women. His statement read: "The governor directs the CM to take convincing steps to address the public outrage over the RG Kar Hospital case and ensure the safety of women in the state. Enough is enough."
5. The Reclaim the Night movement, driven largely by social media, gained further momentum with a protest at 11:30 pm, marking the second midnight march since a similar demonstration on August 14.
6. From small towns to large cities, the chant "We want justice" echoed across the state.
7. In Kolkata, the protests were particularly strong, with women from diverse backgrounds including students, professionals, and homemakers marching together, their collective voice standing against the brutal violence that took the doctor's life.
8. The movement quickly spread to key areas such as Berhampore, Chinsurah, Santiniketan, Krishnanagar, Bardhaman, Siliguri, Barasat, Barrackpore, Rajarhat-Newtown, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri.
9. Doctors, both junior and senior, held their own protest at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the victim's family also gathered to demand justice.
10. Meanwhile, tensions escalated in Mathabhanga during a protest by the West Bengal Democratic Writers’ and Artistes’ Association and the People's Theatre Association. CPI(M) branch secretary Pradyut Saha was allegedly attacked, though TMC’s Mathabhanga Town Block president, Biswajit Rai, denied any violence, stating that their protest was peaceful.
Inputs by Agencies
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