‘Freedom at Midnight’: Powerful Visuals of Bengali Women United On Kolkata Streets

At the stroke of midnight, women across Kolkata took to the streets to demand safety, freedom, and justice for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. According to reports, the protests, themed “Women, Reclaim the Night”, took place at over 45 locations, beginning just before midnight and continuing until 5 am on Independence Day. Powerful visuals from these protests under the midnight sky, which rally “for the women, with the women,” have flooded social media, awakening the collective conscience of the public.

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“Freedom at Midnight – Bengali women are occupying the streets of Bengal,” reads the caption to the pictures shared on X.

“It’s 2:50 am and we are still on road claiming justice for our sister/ West Bengal has suffered a lot, a new surge of protest is everywhere. Stand with us,” wrote another while sharing a video from the protest site.

“The land of Maa Kali has finally woken up…,” wrote yet another while sharing videos of women protesting on the streets under the midnight sky.

How did the protest start?

As per reports, researcher Rimjhim Sinha gave a call for the protest. In a post on Facebook, she wrote, “Reclaim the night! I am Rimjhim Sinha. I heard that the Principal of RG Kar said it wasn’t right for the girl to go there alone at night. That it wasn’t right for her to be alone at night. I will be out at night. On August 14, at 11:59 pm, I will be outside in the name of freedom — my freedom as a woman. I will sing songs, listen to music, and hang out. I will do whatever I want.”

She added, “No, the night isn’t safe for women. No, the clothes aren’t safe. No, the girl’s character isn’t right. I refuse to listen to these anymore. I will be outside all night.”

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It was after this post that sea of people took to the streets to protest under the midnight sky.

Kolkata doctor’s gruesome rape and murder case

On Friday, a trainee doctor’s body was found in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College, bearing horrific signs of sexual assault, strangulation, and smothering. The victim, who was a second-year student in the respiratory medicine department at the hospital, was found semi-naked.

The autopsy revealed gruesome rape and murder. The young doctor was subjected to a brutal sexual assault before being strangled and smothered to death. Her body bore multiple injuries, including bleeding from the eyes, mouth, and private parts. She also suffered injuries to her face, hands, legs, and neck. The incident occurred between 3 am and 5 am.

The prime suspect, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with no affiliation to the hospital, was arrested shortly after the crime. Police said that after committing the crime, the accused returned to his home and washed his clothes in an attemp to cover up the evidence. However, traces of blood found on his shoes led to his arrest. He was sent to a 14-day police under the charges of sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Acting on the order of the Calcutta High Court, the CBI has taken over the investigation and taken the accused, Sanjay Roy, into custody.