"Women, Reclaim The Night" campaign to start tonight to protest RG Kar incident; Celebs also join

Women across Kolkata are set to gather at various major locations in the city along with Malda and Siliguri for a night-long protest on Wednesday at 11:55 PM, under the campaign ‘Women, Reclaim the Night: The Night is Ours.’ The movement aims to demand justice for the alleged sexual assault and murder of a second-year post-graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital last Friday morning.

The protests will occur simultaneously at several prominent spots in the city, including Jadavpur 8 B Stand, Academy of Fine Arts, College Street, Sinthee More, Dunlop, Maldah English Bazar, and Darjeeling More in Siliguri.

This campaign has gained momentum on social media, particularly in response to comments allegedly made by Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the medical college's former principal, who was reported to have questioned why the victim was out late at night. Dr. Ghosh, who has since resigned, denied making such remarks, stating, “The girl who died was like my daughter. I am also a parent. As a parent, I am resigning."

Prominent figures have expressed their support for the campaign. Actress Rituparna Sengupta shared a message of solidarity, saying, “Women will take over the streets, to find justice for women at midnight. Let us all join to seek justice.”

MP and actress Mimi Chakraborty also took to Twitter, demanding severe punishment for the crime, and expressed her grief over the tragic loss, stating, “Someone’s daughter died, someone’s dream, someone’s family, and the loss is irreparable. No mercy plea is what I stand for. I stand with you.”