‘Justice for RGKAR’ has become the collective tune of Bengal as People from all section of the society raised their voice against the brutal rape and murder of a medical student while being on the duty on the night of 9 th august. Actions taken by the administration as well as the government were not satisfactory and there is a kind of doubt raised in the mind of people that for some unknown hoax Police administration was not so active to bring out the names of the real culprits though one civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy was arrested soon after the incident.
For the majority of people it was only an eye- wash and there were several incidents happened by which it can be understood for some unknown unholy reason some influential persons have been trying to deteriorate the crime scene with the intention to hide something.
The call was therefore for the occupy the street by women given by different origination under different banners and on the night of 14th, West Bengal witnessed a huge protest that touched the blue- eyed spots of Kolkata to unprecedented area of different remote regions of Bengal. That night another attempt was made by hooligans to damage the crime scene as they ransacked RGKR campus and further protest was fuelled when Police seemed to be lazy lizard to control or stop the violence.
From the onset of the protest People showed their agitation against Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RGKR medical college at the time of rape and murder incident. Though he was forced to resign under public pressure within 4 hours Government decided to make him the principal of National medical college and the decision provoked people to show mass agitation. Even in the national college students strongly stood against such decision of the government and later because of the intervention of the court he was compelled to have his off days.
This type of decision making of government was totally turning into social boomerang and a mass unity has been created with the call ‘ Justice for RGKAR’ . It was so intensified especially how people have been choosing different platforms to show their protest , even the traditional derby between East Bengal – Mohan Bagan of Durand cup match was called off . This decision has trigged further mass protest and even a new thread as the platform of the protest has been used now that is the play ground . Government had thought that they could stop the agitation of the supporters cancelling the match as officials feared about the tiffo showing could damage more and perhaps because of such protesting scene fire of mass mobilization would further heated up .
It was totally a wrong tactics and thousands of fans of two giants of Bengal football thundered their voice at bypass outside the stadium . Nothing could stop them . An unbelieving unity as seen that evening . East Bengal supporter riding on the solider of Mohan Bangan fan in their respective jerseys were pitching ‘Justice for RGKAR’ . The indomitable spirit of protest was witnessed by Kolkata . Kolkata , a town of protest , till carrying the epitome of Martyrs for greater causes again enlivened to deliver the social responsibility . Legacy seems to surge to be the torch bearer as the city of protest against the
But it is not only in Kolkata .Towns are not far ahead . Even in remote villages protest scenes are regularly orchestrated . It is a kind of mass rising against the system that failed to deliver the promise to a citizen , a resident , a daughter , a doctor and most importantly as a human being. Also outside Bengal in many places the ‘Justice for RGKAR’ has been warbled loudly.
People have realized that now it is a their collective responsibility to intensify the protest . Government of Bengal has taken some actions that are surely to raise doubt about the real motif of the government. Instead of taking steps against the hooligans who were sent to devise to spread panic among the protesters and damage the crime scene police administration under West Bengal government indirectly or directly are trying threat and hackle common men who protested. Even some supporters of three giants of Bengal football were interrogated and hackled by the police without any valid cause. In many colleges especially private medical colleges students were in strictly instructed by the management authority not to show or participate in any such protest program. A shadow dictatorship can be observed how things are going to stop the spontaneous outburst of the students, medics, working women or people of different sections.
People matter. Their voice matters too. West Bengal government has been receiving the magnitude of shake for the sake of their inability to win the faith of the government. Protest seems to be in the form of great condensed level. Bengal boy Monirul Molla scored his goal against Bhutan in the Saff under 20 championship and paid tribute to the unfortunate rape victim demanding ‘Justice for her. “ Same picture could be seen in matches of Mohamedan , Rainbow and East Bengal . People are at the street against the atrocity of that night.
Government seems to be confused and puzzled how to deal with the situation. Days are going and numbers of protest incident are getting increased. It seems that no force can bulldoze the sentiment of the people. Even the apex court also expressed their discontentment over the matter how state government has used the machinery so far to deal with the case especially regarding the process to use investigating agency to give justice to the family of rape victim that is literary increasing and increasing with each day passing.
Time can only tell that RGKAR will get justice or not but the protest that has been unleashed by the people of the people for the victim will surely be chronicled in the history of Bengal as a kind of specimen how unity of people can make a powerful government to remember its duty to provide social justice to any victim.
Wael Ghonim who is an internet activist and galvanized pro-democracy demonstration in Egypt wrote in his book Revolution 2.0 “ The power of the people is much stronger than the people in power.” Hope people will again champion it .
