Friends, teachers from Sodepur schools take to streets, remember girl with dreams in her eyes
Times of India | 18 August 2024
Kolkata: Hundreds of alumni from various all-girls schools in Sodepur, including the alma mater of the 31-year-old second-year post-graduate trainee doctor from R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, took to the streets in protest on Saturday afternoon. The former students demanded immediate punishment for those responsible for her brutal rape and murder.The incident has sparked outrage across the country, with former students uniting to call for swift justice.
The procession was taken out from Sodepur’s Bijaypur Town Club and crossed over 4 km stretches via Sodepur HB Town More off Sodepur-Barasat Road to reach the victim’s house at Sodepur. Though the girls were holding posters, banners and placards with “We Want Justice” slogans during their protest rally, they also held a silent march while approaching the victim’s Sodepur neighbourhood.
“She was a girl with dreams in her eyes. We know how she had fought her way through the financial hardships of the family to complete her school, college and then manage a seat at top medical colleges all on her own. She had cracked both engineering and medical in Joint Entrance Examinations and was selected to study for MBBS at two state-run medical colleges. The monsters, who raped and murdered our friend, should be hanged to death immediately,” said Sangjukta Mukherjee, a former student of Sodepur Chandrachur Vidyapith for Girls.
According to her school sources, she had scored over 90% marks in Madhyamik and 89% marks in HS examination.
“I was appointed here barely 3 years ago, but I have heard from senior teachersthat she was a very obedient and meritorious student and was one of their favourites. She was among the top few students in all classes throughout her school life and was particularly known for her beautiful handwriting,” Nirata Mukherjee, the headmistress of Sodepur Chandrachur Vidyapith for Girls told TOI.
The neighbours of the victim also held a 3-km silent rally in their Sodepur neighbourhood. The protest rally also saw participation from hundreds of local women. “If the mystery behind the gruesome rape and murder of my childhood friend and a promising doctor isn’t solved soon, we will launch larger protests,” said Poulami Roy, a neighbour.