Banerjee has urged Trinamool Congress workers from across the state to stage protests, with a special appeal for women to join the demonstrations over the weekend
Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj leader Sayan Lahiri, who was arrested on August 27 for playing an active role in leading ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally which turned violent, walked out of jail on Saturday after being granted bail by the Calcutta High Court.
The high court had directed authorities to release Lahiri by 2 pm on Saturday. After being released, Lahiri vowed to continue protesting seeking justice for the 31-year-old trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered in Kolkata’s state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
#BreakingNews | Sayan Lahiri released Following Calcutta High Court’s OrderNews18’s @_anshuls with details@Arunima24 | #SayanLahiri#KolkataProtestspic.twitter.com/3jo4hz1TIQ
— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 31, 2024
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is set to stage protests across West Bengal on Saturday, demanding the death penalty for the accused in the Kolkata rape-murder case and calling for stricter laws for crimes against women.
Meanwhile, the BJP has announced a seven-day dharna in response to the state government’s handling of the case. The party has accused Banerjee of displaying a dictatorial attitude toward protesting students and trying to evade responsibility for the rape-murder incident.
Multiple protests are expected across the state as the political blame game between the Centre and the state government continues.
Here are the top updates from Kolkata doctor rape and murder case:
- Security has been increased in front of the CBI office in Kolkata in view of the protests.
- An organisation of doctors will march towards the CBI office demanding fast action from the agency in the RG Kar rape and murder case.
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On Friday, the Calcutta HC had directed the Kolkata Police to release Lahiri. In response, the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government has sought a stay on this decision. The matter is expected to be mentioned before the Supreme Court on Monday for urgent listing.
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The West Bengal government on Saturday moved to the Supreme Court to challenge the bail granted to Sayan Lahiri of Chhatra Samaj, who was arrested in connection with the Nabanna Abhijan violence.
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A civic volunteer has been arrested for hitting barricades put up by protesters blocking the Sinthi area near RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in North Kolkata in an inebriated condition. The police action came after locals on Saturday morning held protests alleging no one stopped the unruly volunteer, who was a potential threat.
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An arterial road in northern Kolkata was blocked for nearly five hours on Saturday after a motorcycle-borne man allegedly entered a barricaded area where a night vigil was being held for justice in the rape-murder of a doctor, according to the police. The motorcycle was reportedly marked with a police sticker.
- Speaking to News18, junior doctor Mohammad Arif said, “We have planned that we will provide treatment to people that’s why we have started Tele medicine for the poor. Abhaya died struggling that’s why we have given name Abhaya clinic.”
- Junior doctors have started telemedicine services for patients on Saturday. Additionally, they will organise a special Abhaya Clinic every Sunday.
- Doctors from AIIMS-Delhi will organise a protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Saturday afternoon. They are calling on fellow medical professionals to join them in highlighting the RG Kar victim’s plight and demanding justice from the government.
- Dr. Suvrankar Datta, Vice President of the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) and senior resident doctor at AIIMS-New Delhi, said: We are organising a large peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar on August 31 to seek justice for our colleague at RG Kar Medical College in West Bengal.”
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Kolkata Police Commissioner regarding the alleged use of excessive and brutal force on August 27 against protesters demanding justice for the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case victim. The NHRC has requested an action-taken report from the police commissioner within two weeks.
- Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi on Friday replied to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s second letter to PM Narendra Modi reiterating her earlier demand for strict punishment for heinous crimes such as rape and rape-murder. The WCD Minister mentioned that stringent punishments for rape/ rape with murder “already exist in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)”.
