Midnight Protests in West Bengal: Women Demand Justice for Doctor's Rape & Murder
Aug 15, 2024
Thousands of women protest across West Bengal, demanding justice for a horrific crime, united by the 'Reclaim the Night' campaign and a shared call for change.
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At midnight on Wednesday, thousands of women from all backgrounds took to the streets across West Bengal. They were protesting the brutal rape and murder of a doctor on duty at a Kolkata hospital.
The 'Reclaim the Night' campaign, which grew through social media, drove the protests. Starting at 11:55 p.m., the movement lined up with Independence Day celebrations. The protests spread from small towns to big cities, with key areas in Kolkata filled with chants of "We Want Justice."
Photo: Women in Kolkata and across Bengal plan a massive protest tonight. [Getty Images]
Women of all ages and backgrounds—students, professionals, and homemakers—marched together. They demanded accountability and an end to violence against women. The atmosphere was electric, as marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ communities, showed their flags with pride.
Rimjhim Sinha, who started the movement, called it a new fight for women's freedom. A viral poster of a red hand holding a crescent moon became the symbol of this strong movement. Over the past few days, the protests spread to different districts and towns across Bengal. In Kolkata, the spirit was strong. Around 8,000 people gathered at Biswa Bangla Gate, holding candles and heartfelt posters.
The protests were not limited to Kolkata. Sreerampore, Chunchura, Santiniketan, Krishnanagar, and other towns also saw similar scenes. Even in Sealdah station, pavement dwellers joined the cause, blowing conch shells as a symbol of resistance.
In Diamond Harbour, women sang Tagore's 'Aguner Parashmani,' raising mobile torches high in a moving call for justice. An elderly woman, Lilly Banerjee, shared her deep concern for her daughter's safety. Actor Rituparna Sengupta also voiced her support, asking for assurance that such violence must never happen again.
