Organisers of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement during the RG Kar protests took out a march in Kolkata on Thursday to demand justice for the trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered. A delegation of five protesters also met the principal secretary of the law department at the Writers’ Building.
Kolkata Police had earlier denied permission to hold the march, which was initially planned to end at Rani Rashmoni Road at Esplanade. A team of protesters also intended to visit Nabanna, the state secretariat, but after being denied, they challenged the police's decision in the Calcutta High Court. The court eventually permitted them to march until College Square.
The protesters walked under the banner of “Reclaim the Night Trans Queer Unity Forum” from central Kolkata’s Wellington to College Square, where they would stage a sit-in protest throughout the night, replicating their ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest from August 14 last year. Members from 'Abhaya Mancha', a civil society group formed during the RG Kar protests, were also present.
They called for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of all those involved in the RG Kar crime, as well as the suspension of individuals who attempted to manipulate or destroy evidence.
Also read
- RG Kar: Protesting junior doctors question WB govt, CBI, SC for delay in justice
- Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Calcutta HC allows doctor to continue dharna, imposes restrictions
- Kolkata doctor rape-murder: HC advises RG Kar victim's parents to seek clarification from appropriate forum
- Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Victim’s parents move Calcutta HC against CBI, demands fresh probe
In addition to seeking justice for the RG Kar case, the protesters also called for institutional and systemic reforms, including 24/7 free public transportation for economically disadvantaged women and individuals from the trans and queer communities.
The protesters also called for the establishment of internal complaint committees (ICCs) in all organised sectors and the publication of an annual report on the functioning of existing ICCs across institutions.
They further demanded that the state government form a commission to examine the operations of the current ICCs and local complaint committees (LCCs), with a report to be issued within a month.
Additionally, the protesters asked the state government to establish anti-sexual harassment and gender awareness cells in all educational institutions.