Parents Demand Justice at R G Kar Vigil
Victim’s parents join torch procession, demand justice.
The parents of the trainee doctor raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024, joined a night-long vigil at Shyambazar on Friday, following a torch procession by junior doctors and the public to honor their daughter’s memory.
The procession, organized by the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, began at College Street near Calcutta University and ended 5 kilometers away at Shyambazar, close to the hospital where the crime occurred. Participants carried placards and chanted “we want justice,” demanding the arrest and punishment of all involved in the brutal crime that sparked nationwide protests last year.
The victim’s father, addressing the crowd at Shyambazar, expressed his grief: “Nothing can compensate for our daughter’s loss. We only demand justice.” He questioned how one person could commit such a heinous act alone, alleging a broader conspiracy and involvement of others. He accused both the state and Central governments of failing to deliver justice and criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for minimal effort, despite meeting senior CBI officials in Delhi on Thursday.
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The father also targeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming she is indifferent to the ongoing protests and the pursuit of justice. Banerjee had visited the family shortly after the crime, but the father said she has since remained silent on the issue.
Protesters wore black headbands reading “have not forgotten, will not forget” and waved national flags during the march. Crowds lined the streets in solidarity as the procession passed. Many stayed at Shyambazar for the night-long vigil, continuing their call for accountability.
Protests demanding justice for the victim spread across Kolkata, from Netajinagar in the south to Sodepur in the north. The victim’s body was discovered in the hospital’s seminar room last year, triggering outrage and calls for a thorough investigation. The CBI is now probing potential conspiracy angles, as the parents insist others were involved in the crime.
A march to Nabanna, the state secretariat in Howrah, has been planned in the parents’ names, described as an apolitical event with civil society participation. The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front also scheduled a protest meeting for Saturday evening outside R G Kar hospital.
The parents remain steadfast, urging the CBI to identify and prosecute all culprits, emphasizing that one person alone could not have committed such a gruesome act.
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