Thousands of women marched across West Bengal on Wednesday night as part of the second edition of the "Reclaim the Night" campaign, demanding justice for a doctor allegedly raped and murdered at a state-run hospital in Kolkata last month.
The campaign, fuelled by social media, has sparked a widespread call to action against violence towards women.
The protests kicked off at 11:30 pm, marking the second such midnight gathering since August 14. Women from all walks of life—actors, students, professionals, and homemakers—came together in cities and small towns, raising their voices against the crime and calling for justice.
The movement spanned several key locations across the state, including Kolkata, Berhampore, Chinsurah, Santiniketan, Krishnanagar, Bardhaman, Siliguri, Barasat, Barrackpore, Rajarhat-Newtown, Cooch Behar, Mathabhanga, and Jalpaiguri.
The protests were peaceful overall but witnessed a few stray incidents. In Kolkata, two men were arrested for misbehaving with women protestors in separate locations.
In one incident at Jadavpur, a man allegedly molested a woman at the crowded 8B Bus Stand area.
The accused, reportedly intoxicated, was promptly taken into custody by police present at the site. The victim, escorted to the police station by actor Sohini Sarkar, lodged an FIR against the accused. Several actors, including Bidipta Chakraborty, Sudipta Chakraborty, and Birsha Dasgupta, accompanied her to offer support. The alleged molester was identified by the victim at the police station, a police official confirmed.
In another incident in Garia, southern Kolkata, a youth was detained for allegedly misbehaving with women at the protest. The youth, also reportedly intoxicated, faced the wrath of other protesters before being handed over to the authorities.
In the northern town of Mathabhanga, a protester was assaulted, allegedly by members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Pradyut Saha, a CPI(M) branch secretary and Mathabhanga Municipality employee, was reportedly attacked during the demonstration.
The CPI(M) filed a complaint with the police, but the TMC denied any involvement by its members in the assault.
The protests were marked by a strong sense of unity, with participants holding aloft the national flag, emphasising the non-partisan nature of the movement.
Political party flags were notably absent, reinforcing the message that the demand for justice transcends party lines.
At Sealdah Station in Kolkata, the protests took on a particularly moving tone as pavement dwellers joined the march, with some women blowing conch shells—a traditional symbol of resistance and defiance. The sound resonated through the station, adding an unexpected yet invigorating touch to the protest.
While the protests largely focused on justice for the doctor, the "Reclaim the Night" campaign has also become a broader movement against gender violence.
The first edition, held on August 14, set the tone for these rallies that are gaining momentum across West Bengal.
In a more controversial moment, actor Rituparna Sengupta faced hostility from a group of protesters at Shyambazar in Kolkata. As she arrived at the protest venue, some participants shouted, "Go back."
The situation escalated, prompting police and Sengupta's bodyguards to escort her to her vehicle, which quickly left the area.
The "Reclaim the Night" campaign, now a rallying cry against violence towards women, has seen participation from diverse groups of the society.
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