The RG Kar rape and murder case has indeed sent shockwaves through Kolkata. The tragic death of the trainee doctor, who was brutally raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, has deeply shaken the city’s conscience. Allegations of a botched investigation and cover-ups by the Kolkata Police and the Trinamool Congress government, led by Mamata Banerjee, have only intensified the public’s anger and mistrust in the authorities.
The mishandling of such a sensitive and horrifying case has fueled widespread outrage, with many citizens feeling that justice is being denied or delayed. The people of Kolkata, known for their strong sense of political and social consciousness, have united in seeking accountability and justice for the trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
The brutal crime and the subsequent mishandling of the investigation have driven a large portion of the city’s residents to the streets, united in their demand for justice for the young doctor.
Today (September 5, Thursday), delivery partners of popular food aggregators like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto organized a massive rally in Kolkata in solidarity and demand for justice for the victim of the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case. This rally highlights how deeply the incident has impacted Kolkata’s collective conscience, cutting across social and professional boundaries.
Unprecedented. Massive protest rally today in Kolkata by partners of Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit & Zepto against the RG Kar incident. Such was never seen anywhere in India pic.twitter.com/AyqI2HTeY6
— Sudhanidhi Bandyopadhyay (@SudhanidhiB) September 4, 2024
On Wednesday, September 4, Kolkata residents staged a powerful symbolic protest by turning off their lights between 9:00 and 10:00 pm to express their deep disappointment over the lack of progress in the investigation of the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case. This act of solidarity sent a strong message to the authorities, reflecting the growing frustration among citizens who feel that justice is being delayed or obstructed.
The symbolic blackout is a reflection of the city’s grief and anger, with residents uniting in a silent protest to demand justice for the young doctor.
Kolkata switches off its lights to join Wednesday night's never seen before protest against CM Mamata Banerjee and her TMC regime, demanding justice for the young doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College Hospital on Health Minister Mamata Banerjee's watch. pic.twitter.com/1s490q2VZG
— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) September 4, 2024
The call for this lights-out night-time protest by doctors, named ‘Let there be light, let there be justice’, came hours before the Supreme Court was scheduled to hear the case on Thursday. However, the hearing has now been postponed.
“Three weeks have passed, still no progress in the investigation… Let’s come out on the streets with light, join hands in our call for justice, and create a human chain,” a protesting junior doctor was quoted as saying.
Civil society groups throughout the state organized demonstrations in various locations in and around Kolkata on Wednesday night, resulting in a statewide surge of nighttime protests reminiscent of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement that captivated the state on midnight of August 14.
Several lawyers formed human chains outside Calcutta High Court and Bankshall Court, advocating for justice for the victim. Following this, Bankshall Court lawyers participated in a rally for the doctor.
Similarly, on Tuesday, September 3, thousands of protesters, including doctors and paramedics from private hospitals, formed a 13-kilometre human chain along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. The human chain stretched from Ultadanga to Patuli, linking the northern and southern parts of the city.
Human chain in progress – Ultadanga to Patuli. The numbers will not dwindle. We will not rest. We want justice! pic.twitter.com/EG6LHdjMjQ
— Doctor (@DipshikhaGhosh) September 3, 2024
Private Healthcare workers had called for a Human Chain across EM Bypass in Kolkata.
— Dr Shrikanth Shetty (@DrSriEye) September 4, 2024
Never ever we had expected to have more than 10000 + people stand for close to 2 hours in demand for justice.
Peak hour traffic was not disrupted…..People joined spontaneously.
Yes , Humanity… pic.twitter.com/yqGpWBwauC
The demonstration, which took place for an hour starting at 5 p.m., was organized in a way that did not disrupt traffic, as protesters made sure to avoid blocking crossings. Participants, waved the tricolour and carried placards with messages like “How long must we wait for justice?”, “Hang the rapists,” and “Justice for our sister,” were joined by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including commuters and local residents.
These symbolic protests reflect the city’s grief and anger, as residents come together to demand justice for the young doctor who was raped and murdered at the state-run hospital. Such coordinated actions indicate a growing loss of faith in the government’s ability to handle serious issues, particularly the failure to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation into this horrific crime. The protests also highlight the determination of Kolkata’s citizens to hold the authorities accountable as they persist in seeking answers and justice for the victim.
