This is the struggle of the whole woman: Arjuna awardee Mantu Ghosh at the protests against the incident at RG Kar College in Siliguri

Arjuna awardee Mantu Ghosh said, “We are expressing our opinion on the gruesome rape of the victim, a trainee doctor, through a vote.” | Photo credit: ANI

A month after the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, women in Siliguri lit candles and vowed to continue protesting until justice is done.

Mantu Ghosh, Arjuna Award winner, said this is a fight of the entire women's world. Mantu Ghosh said, “From what we saw on TV, the incident happened around this time. That is why we have chosen this time to protest. It has been a month since the incident. We are lighting candles and taking an oath. This is a fight of the entire women's world. The people of West Bengal are demanding justice for them. No one can imagine what has happened here. That is why people are fighting together for justice.”

Follow live updates on the hearing in the rape and murder case of a doctor in Kolkata here

She further said that a month has passed and the CBI submitted an envelope on Thursday (September 5, 2024). “We believe that many facts will come out today and we will get justice,” she added. An activist said, “We are expressing our opinion through a vote on the horrific rape of the victim, a trainee doctor. According to news reports, the incident took place at 4.10 am, so we gathered at the same time. We are getting good support. We lit candles and attended a swearing-in ceremony. We swear that a woman should be safe even if she is walking alone at 2 am or midnight and we want safety for her.”

Earlier, on Sunday (September 8, 2024), medical professionals, activists and local citizens formed a human chain in Siliguri to protest against the rape and murder case and demand justice for the victim. The brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has sparked widespread protests in West Bengal and across the country.

The victim was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024. In a related development, BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato on Sunday (September 8, 2024) wrote a letter to the Director of ED demanding an investigation and arrest of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with the Sandip Ghosh health scams and the RG Kar case.

Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar on Sunday (September 8, 2024) wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee offering his resignation from his post as an MP. “I have been suffering patiently for a month since the horrific incident at RG Kar Hospital, hoping for your direct intervention with the agitating junior doctors, in true Mamata Banerjee style. This has not happened and whatever punitive action the government is taking now is too little and far too late. I think normalcy could have been restored in this state much earlier if the faction of corrupt doctors had been crushed and those guilty of inappropriate administrative action had been punished immediately after the scandalous incident,” the letter said.

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Sanjay Roy, a volunteer at the hospital, was arrested in connection with the incident. On September 2, the Anti-Corruption Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Dr. Sandip Ghosh and three others for alleged corruption and financial malpractice at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Mr. Ghosh, the former principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was remanded in police custody for 8 days.

The next hearing in the case will be held on September 10. On September 3, amid protests against the Kolkata rape and murder case, the West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment), 2024.