We demand justice for R G Kar
Saikat Chanda
On 9th August 2024, a postgraduate trainee doctor was brutally raped and murdered at R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, which is one of the leading medical colleges of the state of West Bengal, India, while she was on duty. At first the hospital administration declared that it was a case of suicide although the signs of severe torture were evident. Later Kolkata police arrested one civic volunteer of Kolkata Police in this case.
The general perception is that it is only tip of the iceberg, and many influential persons are involved in this crime. There was controversy regarding the time FIR was lodged, autopsy and desperation on part of Kolkata police in burning the dead body ASAP. All these things put the role of Kolkata Police, Hospital administration and state government under serious questions. Consequently, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following an order by Kolkata High Court. It is firmly believed that West Bengal government and Kolkata Police is trying to safeguard the criminals due to their affiliation to the ruling party.
As a result, discontent amongst people of the state began to swell out of all bounds. A large number of people took to streets in protest all over the state. People of the state raised voice demanding justice for ‘Tilottama’ (This name is being used for the deceased lady doctor instead of her original name since it is against the law of our country).
“Amra Tilottama” a women led civil society organization gave an open call to all women, of the state to “Reclaim the Night” on 14th August. Millions of people, mostly women, came out to street on the midnight of 14th august, they stayed on street all night long, painted illustration on the street, wrote slogans, sang, shouted slogan, made rallies with candles and torch all over the state and in some other parts of the country and some foreign countries as well. On that same night a huge mob vandalized the emergency building of the concerned hospital where the place of crime was situated, and the police stood as mere spectators and allowed the whole thing to happen.
Protest demonstration and rallies continued to hit the streets and busy corners of the state frequently. Long rallies are taking place with thousands of people participating spontaneously. From eight-year-old children to 80 eighty-year-old veterans can be seen in the protest marches. On one occasion a 17-kilometer-long human chain was formed and, on another occasion, 42-kilometer-long relay march continued for 12-long hours. Now over two months have gone by without much progress in the investigation. But the people of our state have no intention to leave the street since they are determined to get justice. The biggest festival of the state ‘Durga Puja’ has appeared duly, and the government tried to thwart the movement using the festivities but in vain. Instead, the protesters mingled the symbols of the festival with the protest activities.
According to old generations, they have not seen a movement of such magnitude and depth after independence of India in 1947. Throughout this period, police have arrested many protesters, filed false cases against them, used arms against peaceful protesters, summoned important persons of civil society for joining the protest, tried to block rallies with barricades. Overall, the role of police and state government has been thoroughly that of oppressive and reactionary state. West Bengal Junior Doctors Forum (WBJDF) took the leading role in this movement. They observed long protest demonstrations in front of Kolkata Police head quarters and the office of the health secretary. At present 10 junior doctors from various medical colleges of the state are on ‘hunger strike unto death’ at ‘Dharmatala’ one of the busiest parts of the city and North Bengal Medical college, demanding justice for their colleague, a safe environment in the workplace and eradication of corruption and threat culture which was in practice in every segment of state controlled medical colleges and other institutions. Three Junior doctors became seriously ill during the hunger strike and had to be hospitalized. But the state government is indifferent.
