Echoing the public outrage that followed the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College last year, Kolkata witnessed fresh waves of civil unrest on Sunday night. South Kolkata’s Gariahat crossing transformed into a powerful site of apolitical protest as hundreds took to the streets, demanding justice in alleged gangrape of a law student at South Calcutta Law College.
The protest, which brought together members of the state’s cultural community, activists from mass organisations and concerned citizens, began as a march towards Hazra crossing— close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat. However, before the rally could proceed, it was intercepted by men and women in uniform. Barricades were erected to block the demonstrators’ path.
Facing police intervention, the protesters decided to stage a sit-in demonstration on the road itself, effectively bringing traffic to a halt in one of Kolkata’s busiest intersections. Armed with torches, candles and placards, the crowd demanded justice in repeated assaults on women.
“People from all the layers of our society, irrespective of their caste, creed and group, have turned up to participate in the protest march. Our message is loud and clear—silence is not an option in the face of repeated assaults on women in educational spaces,” said Bengali actor Badha Moitra, one of the participants in the protest march.
Also read: Kolkata gangrape: Medical report confirms assault, guard arrested
“The Sunday’s scene has evoked vivid memories of last year’s mass mobilisations after the RG Kar tragedy and served as a stark reminder that the city’s civil society continues to rise in defiance whenever conscience is shaken,” said actress Srilekha Mitra.
As chants for justice rang out into the night, the Gariahat sit-in stood not just as a demand for accountability— but also as a resounding assertion of the people’s right to protest.
Hours before the citizens’ protest march, south Kolkata witnessed surging political heat on as BJP’s Yuva Morcha, led by Leader of the Opposition Shuvendu Adhikari, launched the ‘Kanya Suraksha Yatra, a torch-bearing rally protesting the gangrape incident.
The procession, which began at Golpark and made its way to Gariahat, saw hundreds of BJP supporters take to the streets with torches, placards and slogans demanding justice and accountability from the TMC-led government.
Upon reaching Gariahat crossing, Adhikari climbed atop a matador van, torch in one hand, to deliver a fiery speech. “Girls are no longer safe in this state. The law college incident is horrifying proof. Until justice is served, we will not leave the streets,” he declared.
The rally, however, was stopped short at Gariahat by heavy police deployment and barricades blocking the route toward Kasba police station. The Kolkata Police, anticipating the rally’s direction, had sealed off the road, forcing the BJP contingent to halt.
Undeterred, Adhikari used the moment to announce BJP’s next move. “On July 2, we will march to the Kasba police station. If the police deny us permission, we’ll move the High Court. This movement will continue—with or without permission,” he said.
He went further to call for Mamata Banerjee’s political ousting: “Mamata must be removed from Nabanna (state secretariat) by 2026. Whether it’s the Kasba gangrape or RG Kar incident, the BJP will not rest until justice is delivered.”
Adhikari ended his address with a clarion call—“This Kanya Suraksha Yatra will continue statewide over the next week. If the state cannot ensure women’s safety, we will not let it sleep in peace.”
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