Kolkata Rallies Against Doctor’s Rape-Murder: Massive ‘Reclaim the Night’ Protest Planned
Kolkata is bracing for a massive protest as men, women, political leaders, and celebrities take to the streets to demand justice for the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protest, scheduled for Wednesday night, coincides with the eve of India’s 78th Independence Day.
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team, including medical and forensic experts, has begun investigating the incident at the hospital where the doctor’s body was discovered on August 9. The case, initially handled by Kolkata Police, was transferred to the CBI following a directive from the Calcutta High Court amid growing public outrage and widespread protests by junior doctors that have disrupted state healthcare services.
The ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest will see participants gather at 45 locations across Bengal, starting at midnight on Independence Day. The movement, largely apolitical, has gained traction on social media, with calls for women to assert their independence and demand safety.
Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray has expressed solidarity, announcing a personal dharna and backing the women-led protest. Tollywood celebrities, including Swastika Mukherjee and Prasenjit Chatterjee, have also pledged their support, adding star power to the cause.
The protest symbolizes a collective cry for justice and a demand for freedom from violence against women, as Kolkata and Bengal rise to reclaim the night.
