A protest march in Kolkata, organized to mark the first anniversary of the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, descended into chaos on Saturday as police clashed with demonstrators, including the victim’s parents. The victim’s mother alleged that she was assaulted by the Kolkata Police, sustaining a head injury and a broken shankha (a traditional conch shell bangle), during the ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ rally aimed at reaching the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, to demand justice.
The rally, led by the parents of the 31-year-old trainee doctor who was raped and murdered in August 2024, sought to press Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for accountability and a thorough investigation into the crime. The incident, which shook the nation last year, led to widespread protests, a nationwide doctors’ strike, and the eventual conviction of Sanjay Roy, a civic police volunteer, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2025. However, the victim’s parents remain dissatisfied with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, having recently met CBI Director Praveen Sood in Delhi to voice their concerns.
Allegations of West Bengal’s Police Brutality
The protest, which began at designated assembly points in Kolkata and Howrah, saw a massive turnout of demonstrators, including members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other supporters. The march was intended to proceed to Nabanna, located in Howrah district, where the office of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is housed.
At Santragachi, protesters tried to dismantle 10-foot-high iron barricades, prompting the police to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Similar scenes unfolded at the Park Street-Jawaharlal Nehru Road crossing, where demonstrators, including BJP leaders, were baton-charged after attempting to move toward Vidyasagar Setu, the bridge linking Kolkata to Howrah. The victim’s mother, visibly shaken, told media, “Mamata Banerjee’s police roughed me up without provocation, broke my bangles. Why are they stopping us? All we want is to reach the secretariat and ask for justice for my daughter.”
The victim’s father echoed her sentiments, alleging that despite obtaining court permission for the rally, they were prevented from joining the march. Visuals from the protest showed the parents standing behind barricades, pleading with police to allow them to proceed to Nabanna.
BJP Leaders Join the Protest
The protest saw significant participation from BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, and MLA Agnimitra Paul. Adhikari claimed that over 100 protesters, including himself and other BJP leaders, were injured in the police action. He staged a sit-in at the Park Street-Jawaharlal Nehru Road crossing, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “That day is not far when we will have to beat up the police as well. They will be thoroughly thrashed,” said BJP leader and former cricketer Ashok Dinda, escalating the rhetoric.
Background of the RG Kar Rape Case
The rape and murder of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024 sparked nationwide outrage. The victim’s body was discovered in the hospital’s seminar hall, and a postmortem report confirmed she had been throttled and smothered. The case was initially investigated by the Kolkata Police but was transferred to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court amid allegations of mishandling and public pressure. The incident also led to the resignation of the college principal and drew sharp criticism of the state government’s response.
Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was convicted in January 2025, but the victim’s parents have expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation, alleging that key aspects of the case remain unresolved. Their meeting with the CBI Director in Delhi underscored their frustration, prompting the organization of the ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ to demand a more thorough probe.
Despite being stopped by police, the protesters remained defiant. A second march has been planned from Hazra crossing in southern Kolkata to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat later today. Demonstrators carried the national flag and banners demanding justice, while some called for systemic changes to ensure the safety of medical professionals.
The clashes have reignited debates about police handling of protests and the state government’s response to the RG Kar case. The victim’s parents, at the forefront of the movement, continue to seek answers and accountability, vowing to persist until justice is served.
As Kolkata grapples with the aftermath of Saturday’s unrest, the RG Kar case remains a potent symbol of the fight for justice and reform in West Bengal.
