East Bengal and Mohun Bagan fans join film stars in rally for justice in Kolkata doctor rape-murder case
In an extraordinary show of solidarity, fans of Kolkata¡¯s ¡®Big Three¡¯ football clubs¡ªMohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting¡ªset aside their fierce rivalry and braved relentless rain to protest against the horrific rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protests took place on Sunday, August 18, 2024, as thousands of supporters gathered outside Salt Lake Stadium, demanding justice for the victim.
East Bengal and Mohun Bagan fans unite for justice
Over a hundred fans from Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, holding placards and posters, gathered outside the stadium, raising slogans for justice for the doctor¡¯s family. Despite the rivalry, fans of Mohammedan SC, another major football club, also joined the protests later in the day. According to people familiar with the details, the Durand Cup match between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal was cancelled due to law and order concerns.
The peaceful protest turned tense when some supporters, driven by their emotions, spilled onto the busy EM Bypass, blocking traffic. The police responded by chasing the protesters with canes, detaining several of them. Authorities also imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita from 4 pm to 12 am to ¡°prevent disruption of peace,¡± as per sources.
Among those protesting were India defender and Mohun Bagan captain Subhasish Bose, who was accompanied by his wife, Kasturi Chetri, and All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey. Bose, holding a placard that read ¡°Justice for RG Kar,¡± emphasized the significance of the united protest. ¡°I¡¯ve come here as a commoner. Justice is needed to ensure that this incident is never repeated. The culprits should receive proper punishment. We will continue our protests until justice is served,¡± he said.
Bose highlighted the historic nature of the event, noting that this was the first time rival football club fans had come together for a common cause. ¡°This fight is not just for Bengal, but for the entire country¡Together, we will fight so that no one dares to commit such a heinous act again,¡± Bose added.
The protest began around 4 pm outside the VIP Gate at Salt Lake Stadium, where the Durand Cup derby match was scheduled. However, due to security concerns, the administration called off the event.
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey criticized the cancellation of the East Bengal vs. Mohun Bagan match, expressing concerns about the state¡¯s law and order situation. He joined the rally at Salt Lake Stadium, standing alongside the fans in their demand for justice.
Bengal film industry takes to the streets to condemn the crime
The outrage over the rape and murder of the doctor spread beyond the football community, with members of the Bengal film fraternity also taking to the streets. Actors, directors, and technicians held a rally in Kolkata on Sunday to protest the heinous crime.
Prominent figures, including directors Kaushik Ganguly, Srijit Mukherjee, Shibo Prasad Mukhopadhyay, Raj Chakraborty, and actors Paoli Dam, Ankush Hazra, Parambrata Chatterjee, and Subhasree Ganguly, participated in the protest. The group marched for a kilometer, chanting, ¡°The Bengali film industry has one voice, we want justice for the victim.¡±
Paoli Dam, a leading actress, expressed her anguish, saying, ¡°I had to come to the rally today. A woman medical student was brutalized and murdered at her own workplace. We cannot stay silent; we must respond.¡± The procession began at Technicians¡¯ Studio in Tollygunge, traveled by bus to Khanna crossing in North Kolkata, and then continued on foot to Shyambazar Metro Station.
Cricketer Suryakumar Yadav calls for action on social media
As public anger continues to rise, India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav added his voice to the chorus of condemnation. On social media, he shared a strong message, urging people to ¡°Educate your son and your brothers and your father and your husband and your friends.¡±
Suryakumar joins other prominent cricketers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Jemimah Rodrigues in speaking out against the tragedy. Bumrah recently shared a post originally made by Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, aligning himself with her sentiments.
The gruesome crime occurred when a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests and demonstrations across the city.
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