City of Joy Kolkata, now full of anger, hit the streets again to seek justice for the rape-murder of a young doctor that took place nearly a month ago.
Of the many foot marches held today, the key one — by 58 school alumni associations — was held in posh south Kolkata.
The artists of the city also turned out in strength with rallies of their own. The film actors held one in Tollygunge.
The art colleges chipped in with road grafitti at key intersections. The sculptors from Kumartuli, for whom it is the peak season with Durga Puja just a month away, held a protest in north Kolkata, seeking justice for their "Durga".
The rickshaw pullers of the city joined in with their own rally.
Hundreds of junior doctors of R G Kar hospital, the epicentre of the movement since August 10, meanwhile, formed a human chain at 5 pm and sang the national anthem holding the tri-colour.
Accompanying the protesters was the mother of the 31-year-old doctor, whose rape-murder had triggered the massive protests.
"Whenever I think about the torment, the pain experienced by my daughter on that night, I shudder. She had dreams to serve the society," the woman's mother said. "Now, all these protesters are all my children," she said.
The protests will be reflected by the Indian community in 13 nations across the world.
The mega protest will be followed up by another "Reclaim the night" demonstration by women. People from various fields — musicians, artistes, painters and actors, would also join the 'Reclaim the Night' demonstration, which begins at 11 pm.
Similar protests will be held in suburban pockets including Barrackpore, Barasat, Budgebudge, Belgharia, Agarpara, Dumdum, Baguiati and other areas.
The rape-murder of the second-year postgraduate doctor on August 9 that shocked the country, has kept Kolkata in a continuous churn.
The doctors' protests have been on despite the Supreme Court's directions to return to work. The angry civil society has joined in, demanding justice. Every day, they have held multiple protests across the state, determined not to let the matter rest.
The tipping point has been the Bengal government's handling of the matter.
Questions have been raised about the police investigation, and multiple allegations from the woman's parents — from hasty cremation of the body to being offered money to maintain silence.
The allegations of financial irregularities against the hospital's former Principal Sandip Ghosh have raised more questions.
Both cases are being followed by the Central Bureau of Investigation
following the order of the Calcutta High Court.
The woman's body was found at a seminar room at the hospital on the morning of August 9. Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, has been arrested. Roy was stationed at the police outpost at the hospital and had access to all departments.
