“That night, she may have cried out…calling my name. I don’t know. What I know that this is now eating me from the inside. Why did I send her to R G Kar?” said the mother of a trainee docor who was raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, who spoke in public for the first time since the incident last month.
As thousands of people took to the streets of Kolkata and various parts of Bengal around midnight on Wednesday, at Shyambazar Five Point crossing in Kolkata, amid a sea of people — men women and children — the voice of the public rang out, loud and clear.
In the second edition of the protest, known as ‘Reclaim the Night’, more people turned out on the streets and the victim’s parents spoke on an open stage.
“It (R G Kar) was a big medical college. Where you got a chance. We three were so happy In that same R G Kar medical college … she may have called maa maa… so many times… that cry never reached my ears. If I had not sent her, she might have been with me now. This question is I am facing now, everyday,” said the mother of the junior doctor, speaking on stage for the public for the first time.
“My girl may have gone. But I have got you. This is the truth. Until I get justice for my child, please be with me… be on my side. Those who have committed the crime and those who have tried to hide evidence… they too should be punished,” she added.
Kolkata and different parts of Bengal saw unprecedented scenes as people took to the streets in the second version of the ‘Reclaim the night’ call to protest against rape and mkurder of a junior doctor. The marches were preceded by residents switching off their lights and lighting candles and Diyas at home in various parts of Kolkata and Bengal.
Apart from Shyambazar five point crossing, Biswa Bangla Gate in New Town, Jadavpur crossing, Sinthir more crossing, Behala Sakher Bazar and other arres saw peope gathering for protest.
With candles, placards and posters at hand people participated. Since 8 pm people started to march and gather at the crossings. Songs like Kazi Nazrul Islam’s revolutionary song “Karar Oi Louho Kapat, Bhenge Phel Korre Lopat” (Let’s unshackle the iron grill) and ‘We shall over come’ with both Bengali and English version was in the lips of protestors. Street plays, songs , reitaton too took place.
“I never took part in any rally. I have come here because I have children too. My daughter is just five years old. I have brought her here too. From here I will go to Shyambazar where the main gathering is,” said Gopal Sarkar, who stood near Bethune College the protesters passed though.
The Raj Bhavan put its lights out and Giverbor C V Ananda Bose was also seen lighting candles.
“I came on the night of August 14, with my husband. But this time we decided to take out daughter too. We lit a candle. She does not understand why…Kept asking me. But I know why. This is the need of the hour. That is all I want to say. Many from my neighborhood came,” said Sushma Das, who was seen with her family at Shyambazar.
However, in Garia, another point where people gathered, tension erupted after a youth was seen taking videos and asking people their names and addresses. Later Police detained the youth.
In Mathabhanga, Cooch Behar, some protesters were allegedly attacked by miscreants but the police arrived and soon brought the situation under control.
‘This evening, during a protest programme at Mathabhanga Chowpathy, certain graphitti was painted on the road which was found to be objectionable by a certain section of people and a dispute arose. Police promptly intervened and brought the situation under control,” @WBPolice the Cooch Behar district police posted on X.
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