CBI takes accused into custody in Kolkata doctor's assault-murder case; celebrities to join massive protest tonight
PTC News Desk: On Wednesday evening, August 14, the eve of the 78th Independence Day, men, women, political leaders, and celebrities in West Bengal are scheduled to stage a large-scale protest in the streets, at intersections, and on major roads against the rape and killing of a woman trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
For the first time, medical professionals from Manipal, Medica, Peerless, and RN Tagore, among other large private hospitals along Kolkata's Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, together with nurses and other staff members, marched from Mukundapur to Ruby crossroads on Wednesday afternoon.
The demonstration coincides with the start of the incident's inquiry by a group of senior Central Bureau of inquiry personnel who arrived in Kolkata on Wednesday morning. The corpse of the trainee doctor was discovered on August 9 in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The CBI team, which is made up of forensic and medical specialists, will visit the location.
According to a central agency official, three groups of CBI officers have been created to look into the subject. At midnight on Wednesday, the demonstrators are expected to take to the streets in at least 45 locations in Bengal, according to The Telegraph.
The demonstrations, which are calling for the independence of Bengal's women, are expected to begin late on Wednesday night and last until beyond midnight on Independence Day, according to the organisers in a number of districts.
People from all walks of life have been urged to participate in the demonstration, which is being billed as "For women's independence on the midnight of Independence," by way of a social media campaign. According to The Indian Express, participants are asked to carry candles and blow conch shells.
Information regarding meeting places—from different areas of Kolkata to other towns in Bengal—is being sent widely. The IE report also stated that several slogans are making the rounds on WhatsApp, including "Justice for RG Kar," "The Night is Ours," "Reclaim the Night," "Meyera Raat er Dhokhol Koro (Women seize the night)," and "Meyera Raat er Dokhol Nao… Sankha Dhonite Bhoriye Dao (Women seize the night… fill it with the sound of conch shells)."
Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties have declared their intention to participate in this historic, and thus far apolitical, street movement as word of the event has been circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms since Wednesday morning.
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Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, a senior member of the Trinamool Congress, denounced the doctor's rape and murder and declared that he will participate in a dharna in support of the women's midnight protest on Wednesday.
Women are planning to take to the roads at midnight in the eastern metropolis and regions of West Bengal to demonstrate against the death of the trainee physician at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
"I will observe a personal dharna today from 5 to 9 p.m. to document my protest and show support for the ladies who will go to the streets this evening. Sukhendu Sekhar Ray told news agency PTI, "I will not be able to join them at midnight due to my age, but I express full support to them."
The TMC MP had stated in a post on X last night that he will join the demonstrators because he has a daughter and a granddaughter.
"Like millions of Bengali families, I have a daughter and a small granddaughter, so tomorrow I will join the protesters." We have to step up to the plate. Enough with the mistreatment of women. Together, let's resist. Whatever happens, "he wrote on the microblogging platform.
Ray later replied, "Please need not worry for my fate," in response to a social media user's post suggesting that he would be kicked out of the party. My veins are filled with the blood of a freedom fighter. I don't care too much."
The Calcutta high court on Tuesday mandated that the CBI take over the Kolkata Police's investigation into the suspected rape and murder of the resident physician at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Junior physicians' widespread agitation has severely damaged state healthcare services, causing even emergency and out-of-hours departments to cease operations in the majority of state-run institutions.
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After undergoing medical examinations at the government-run SSKM Hospital, Sanjoy Roy, who was detained in relation to the crime, was turned over by the Kolkata Police to the CBI at the CGO Complex.
On Tuesday night, two CBI officers went to the Tala Police Station and collected records pertaining to the inquiry being conducted by the Kolkata Police.
On Tuesday, the court ordered the city police to give the central investigate agency the case diary by the end of the day and all additional papers by 10 a.m. on August 14.
According to IE, a number of Tollywood actors, directors, and personalities, including Kaushik Ganguly, Srijit Mukherji, Prasenjit Chatterjee, and Swastika Mukherjee, also declared their intention to participate in the demonstrations.
- With inputs from agencies
