Women to Stage All-Night Protest at Midnight for Freedom

Women in Kolkata are preparing to stage all-night protests on Wednesday, demanding justice for a second-year postgraduate trainee who was allegedly assaulted and murdered at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. The campaign, titled "Women, Reclaim the Night: The Night is Ours," is gaining momentum on social media and is drawing participants from across the city, including men.

The protests, taking place at various locations such as Jadavpur 8B Stand, Academy of Fine Arts, and College Street, echo similar demands made in the city ten years ago after the horrific gang rape incident in Delhi. Back then, women in Kolkata led the "Take Back the Night" movement, asserting their right to walk freely without fear. This recent tragedy has reignited that call.

The "Take Back the Night" movement, which began nearly five decades ago following the murder of a microbiologist in Philadelphia, continues to resonate globally. In Kolkata, protests were also sparked after the Nirbhaya case in Delhi. Now, with this latest incident, women are once again rallying for their rights.

The movement began in response to controversial remarks attributed to Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the college principal, who allegedly questioned why the victim was out late at night. Dr. Ghosh has since resigned, denying the comments and expressing sorrow.

Prominent figures like Rituparna Sengupta and Mimi Chakraborty have expressed solidarity, with Sengupta urging women to "take over the streets" and Chakraborty demanding severe punishment for the crime. This protest symbolizes a broader challenge to gender biases and a renewed demand for women's safety and rights in Kolkata.