A midnight march titled “Reclaim the Night” is planned in Kolkata to mark the anniversary of a tragic rape-murder case. The event aims to raise awareness and demand justice for victims of gender-based violence. The Supreme Court set the next hearing for the RG Kar case on September 9, amid ongoing nationwide protests.
New Delhi: Amid ongoing nationwide protests, the Supreme Court set the next hearing for the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case for September 9, today.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, alongside Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, will review the case. The court initially taken suo moto cognisance on August 22. This upcoming session will also examine a complaint from the central government, alleging that the West Bengal government has been uncooperative with the CISF, which is responsible for providing security at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the third ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest scheduled for September 8, marking one month since the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor. This protest aims to continue the demand for justice, with several Ganesh Puja committees in Kolkata scaling back their celebrations in a show of solidarity.
The BJP renewed its call for the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, following claims by the victim’s father that the Kolkata police attempted to bribe the family into silence over the hasty cremation of their daughter.
In another development, West Bengal Governor C.V. Anand Bose forwarded the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill, 2024’ to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent. The bill, passed in the state assembly, proposes the death penalty for rape convicts if the crime results in the death of the victim or leaves her in a vegetative state.
The CBI’s investigation zeroed in on a primary suspect, Sanjay Roy, after ruling out gang rape. The agency conducted interviews and polygraph tests and expected to present its findings to the Calcutta High Court by September 23.
The city is witnessing divided opinions as Durga Puja preparations begin amidst ongoing protests demanding justice for the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital.
Activist Debalina Dey, said,
“Until we secure justice for our murdered sister at RG Kar hospital, our movement will persist.”
She emphasized that women’s safety and justice take precedence over festival celebrations.
In contrast, Partha Ghosh, key organizer of the Shiv Mandir Puja Committee, expressed that while they share the protestors’ pain, “Durga Puja is central to Bengali culture,” and the celebrations must continue.
Members of the West Bengal Service Doctors Forum also urged the governor to intervene, while around 200 activists, including doctors and nurses, marched in a 2-km procession on Saturday, demanding justice for the victim.
The Durga Vahini, the women’s wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, held a protest march demanding justice for the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case. They accused the West Bengal government of involvement.
Ritu Singh, chief of Durga Vahini, stated,
“This fight will go on till we get justice. How can one man earn so much from the hospital and access it so easily? The government is involved in this case.”
Meanwhile, BJP MP Jyotiramay Singh Mahato wrote to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, urging an investigation into the Bengal government’s alleged “misuse of hospitals” and accusing them of protecting corrupt TMC leaders and tampering with the crime scene at RG Kar Hospital.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also weighed in, accusing the opposition of politicizing the Ujjain rape case while remaining silent on the Kolkata incident.
Yadav remarked,
“They do not open their mouths on the incident in Kolkata,”
In another development, the Bengal Medical Council issued a show-cause notice to ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh over financial irregularities. Ghosh, who was questioned by the CBI and underwent a polygraph test, being investigated in a separate case linked to the rape-murder incident.
The CBI, according to a report, has narrowed down the search for the perpetrator in the RG Kar rape-murder case to the prime accused, Sanjay Roy, ruling out gang rape. Investigations and polygraph tests have been conducted, including probes into Sandip Ghosh.
The third ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest will be held in Kolkata, marking one month since the incident. Similar protests planned in Barrackpore, Barasat, Budgebudge, Belgharia, Agarpara, Dumdum, and Baguiati, with thousands expected to participate. The first protest saw mob violence and vandalism at RG Kar Hospital.
Several Ganesh Puja committees in Kolkata displayed posters demanding justice for the victim of the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case. Many committees have also scaled down their celebrations, showing solidarity with the victim’s family and calling for a swift resolution to the case.
The Supreme Court, which took suo moto cognizance of the RG Kar incident, scheduled the next hearing for September 9. The court will review the progress in the investigation of the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor that occurred at the hospital on August 9.