A of t the stroke of midnight on August 15, 2024, when India ushered in its 78th year Independence, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Kolkata to protest the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protest, aimed at "reclaiming the night", was one of the largest in the city in recent memory.
Holding candles, placards and flaming torches, and blowing conch shells, women from across West Bengal-spanning socio-economic lines flooded the streets. Men joined in solidarity.
It was a powerful expression of anger against systemic failure. The outrage has extended beyond Kolkata, crossing state and even national boundaries.
The Opposition the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bharatiya Janata Party-has turned the heat on the establishment.
The medical community is furious, with even some Trinamool Congress leaders speaking out. On Sunday, hundreds of fans of archrivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal football clubs joined hands in protest.
Kolkata is simmering.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the health and home portfolios, finds herself in a difficult position. Despite leading a protest march on Friday demanding "justice" and asking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complete its probe by Sunday, the anger has not subsided as protests continue.
On Saturday, the West Bengal government announced new measures for safety of women working in government hospitals, medical colleges, and other night-shift environments.
A statement from the government highlighted the administration's focus on "introspection, accountability, and action" following the RG Kar incident.
The rape and murder of the trainee doctor have severely embarrassed the administration. The timeline of events, some of which find mention in a Calcutta High Court order, paints a grim picture.
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