By | PR Network
Kolkata: Parts of Kolkata, including Dharmatala and the neighboring city of Howrah, witnessed widespread chaos on Saturday as protesters took to the streets to demand justice for the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College Hospital on August 9, 2025. The demonstration, called by the parents of the victim, marked the completion of one year since the horrific incident.
The protesters, including the victim’s parents, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, and other BJP leaders, marched towards the state secretariat, Nabanna, despite elaborate police arrangements. The police deployed iron barricades, guard rails, and large contingents of officers to stop the protesters’ progress. However, the protesters were determined to reach Nabanna, and clashes broke out at multiple points, including Park Street and Howrah.
The police resorted to lathicharge and used drones for aerial surveillance to control the situation. The mother of the deceased doctor suffered a head injury during the lathicharge and was admitted to a private hospital. The victim’s father accused the police of attempting to block the rally and claimed that the government was putting pressure on their neighbors and locality to ostracize them.
The BJP leaders, including Adhikari, alleged that they were manhandled and baton-charged by the police. Adhikari claimed that over 100 protesters were injured and lashed out at the Kolkata Police Commissioner, accusing him of trying to cover up the case.
The West Bengal government faced criticism for its handling of the protests, with the police closing the Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah Bridge to traffic. The state Minister of Women and Child Development, Sashi Panja, accused the BJP of trying to intimidate people and divide them, saying that the party’s actions were against the Bengali culture.
The protests highlight the growing demand for justice in the RG Kar rape and murder case, with the victim’s parents and supporters refusing to back down despite the challenges they face. The case has sparked widespread outrage and demands for accountability, with many questioning the government’s handling of the investigation and the police’s response to the protests.
