Bengal is now boiling at the heinous murder of an on-duty Post Graduate Trainee Lady Doctor at R G Kar Medical College, Kolkata. The girl after completing her MBBS took admission to the MD Course in Chest Medicine and as a part of the curriculum she was doing her duty continuously for 36 hours, which is common for doctors.

On the fateful night, she after finishing her dinner with other doctor colleagues, went for Rest at Seminar Hall sometime after 10-30, 11 pm or maybe even after eleven because the exact timing could not be ascertained for different statements received from her colleagues.

After that nobody knew what happened. In the morning she was found dead by a civic volunteer, named Sanjay Roy.

College officials including Principal reached the site but police who were available at the campus outpost reached to the body after 40 minutes of arriving Principal.

Then after many surprises things happened. None of the officials nor even the police expressed their desire to know the state of the girl but somebody, as stated by the victim's parent, over the phone informed that their daughter was ill. After, some time one gentleman, identifying himself as Assistant Medical Super told their daughter committed suicide but by that time it was unofficially confirmed that the girl was murdered.

Now, the question raised that a Medical College where all qualified doctors were available, how a death could be declared first as illness and then as suicide before doing any medical investigation? What was the intention behind it?

The news spread. The students became furious.

Parents reached but they were not allowed to see their daughter's body. They were kept waiting outside. Mother was wailing. Praying to all available there from an ordinary constable to higher police officials and to the civilians who were present to allow to reach to their daughter but were denied, instead the parents were grilled by a countless number of police people but many people found loitering around and also from parent and other relatives including her fiance, who was also a doctor, we all came to know that though parents were not allowed but many people had easy access to the crime scene then. Time passed by and Parents still made to wait outside and were heavily guarded by police.

Again the questions arose.

How without doing a proper investigation the parents were informed first about illness then suicide?

Why the body not taken to Emergency Department for opinion because as per protocol any such type of death is first to be examined by Emergency Department. If due to some technicality the body could not be shifted then why on duty Emergency Doctor was not summoned to Seminar Room which is just above in the same building? Or, if due to some reason the Emergency Doctor not available then why some other senior doctor did not examine her and declare dead? Why before assessing, the victim's father was informed in a wrong way?

Why the police was informed late? What activities were done in between police arrival and Principal's arrival? It was reported that there were 25 minutes difference between time gap, which should not have been. This raising enormous doubt of some mischievous things.

When the doctors found her dead then why police did not take her for Post Mortem immediately, the very much facility available within the College Campus itself?

Why the parents were kept waiting for a long time while many others had then access to victim?

When body discovered in the morning then why it was taken for autopsy only after 6 pm?

Why did not College Authority lodge any FIR as soon as the incident came to notice?

Why when father of the victim reached Police Station for lodging complaint in the evening then unprecedented situation occurred? Why the police reluctant to lodge it as a Murder Case instead they recorded as Unnatural Death even by that time it was almost unofficially confirmed as murder and autopsy report would likely to come soon. Why the police did not wait for some time to register the actual cause of death? The PM report, by the time came, confirmed the death as murdered and rape.

Again a surprising and astonishing thing came out regarding the timing of FIR. Parents lodged it about 6 pm but the documents revealed that timing recorded was much after 6 pm. Why this discrepancy?

It was further complained that police and some two three students continuously harassing them during the time of framing the complain. This again, if it is true, then a serious look to be given why the disturbance created at that time and who the students were?

The list of questions did not stop here. Police were found in a hurry to take mortal to her residence which is about some hours journey from this institution. Parents were following the hearse under the strict vigil of police while uncle and auntie were left behind without extending any supporting hand for arranging a vehicle by police. They with great difficulty could arrange a vehicle and moved on.

During the journey parents felt some suspicious activities and lost the sight of the hearse as the hearse was taken through 'Green Corridor' and the body reached much before the arrival of her parents and relatives. They all found that mortal of their beloved daughter reached home and waiting outside with a thick layer of police guard of around 400 in number.

Then, as stated by the bereaved father, that a Police Officer whom he could recognise as DC (North) offering him a good amount of money for not pursuing the case further which he refused. Now, again the question raised, if the complain is true, then why father was offered money? What was the intention of police? What did the administration want to hide? Why police were active to compromise with alluring money for this rape and murder case? Was there any conspiracy for killing the girl brutally? Why so much of police deployed for an ordinary Trainee Doctor? Who funded to negotiate?

Father, as he said, wanted to keep the body for a day more but the administration was reluctant. They kept on pressurising parents for early cremation. Under compulsion, with full of grief and heavy heart parents moved to Burning Ghat and found there some political personalities were present to pay tribute but their activities raised some more question to them and to general public. The body was in the queue and before this mortal two others were in waiting but for some unknown reason, this body which was at number three got the preference over others and entered into the furnace hurriedly, even somebody other than parent and family members completed the official formalities and paid the necessary charges for cremation. Father did not know who the person put signature on Burning Ghat Paper and who paid charges and why. The question here, why this body got preference? Who the people were so active to influence the Burning Ghat official for putting body into furnace so hurriedly and why? Even the fee required for cremation was either waived or might have been paid by some unknown. The question here is why such favour was given?

On the other hand student at R G Kar Medical College started staging protest and demanded for immediate apprehending of culprits. The news of this gruesome death already started stir in all Medical Colleges of Bengal. Entire Bengal were furious. The common people also came out of house and raised protest. Demanding for immediate arrest of culprits. The Kolkata Police arrested Sanjay Roy, the first person who found the body, as a prime suspect.

After four days when Police could not make much breakthrough than only arresting one suspected accuse then father moved to Kolkata High Court with a plea for CBI probe which the hon'ble Chief Justice Bench agreed to.

The moment CBI took over the charge the scenario changed and the West Bengal Government openly criticising the judgement and expressing fear citing CBI's success record for other ongoing investigations but Rest of Bengal welcomed the move.

The student doctors were agitating. Bengal citizens joined shoulders with junior doctors. Senior Doctors did not hesitate to step into. Even political opponents didn't want to loose the opportunity for their own gain. Some of the political party raised the demand for resignation of Chief Minister who happens to be the Health Minister and Home Minister also but the Junior Doctors forming a Forum announced that their movement for Justice was apolitical and sought the blessing and participation of all citizen. This appeal bought the heart of all of Bengal and India and spontaneous protest started throughout the country for that murder of country's one of the bright medical student.

Doctors from all over India expressed their solidarity and took out processions at different corners of the country. Even this brutality rocked the Indians outside country and they also started shouting against this crime which made Bengal ashamed.

In the meantime, seeing the gravity of the case, the honourable Supreme Court started a Suo Moto Case and the R G Kar case transferred from Kolkata to Delhi.

The murdered girl was found on 9th August morning. Country was weeping. Protests were on. People won't interested to take part in any of the polical party programme, thus the Strike Call given by some political Party could not have much success but in the meantime an unknown girl, named Rimjhim Sinha, had given a unique call to Bengal ladies for 'Reclaim the Night' on 14th August from 12 night to morning dawn. This got overwhelmed response. Girls of all age group including school students, college goers, young ladies, household wives even the septagenarian, octogenarian grannies also assembled at a specific point of their locality. The entire nation witnessed a disciplined protest march throughout Bengal where there was No Leader, Nobody put pressure to join the rally which was very common in Bengal for any political gathering. In this Night March many people other than ladies also walked down the road to put pressure on the administration for justice.

The disciplined but angry crowd were moving with placards in hand. Someone carrying a big placard tieing around her neck. The people who could not walk were showering best wishes for success from home and standing beside roads. Some of them were blowing conch and Bengal from Kolkata to Suburbs and villages to slums witnessed a separtate kind of protest rally where there was no unnecessary shouting, no intension to damage government's property and no attempt for stone pelting to police but the rally at R G Kar College was marred by a huge gang of goons. The unruly mob with bamboos and sticks in hand stormed into the college, ransacked the important and costly diagnostic machines, life supporting equipments, medicines and other properties. Went top for threatening the on duty sisters and nurses and created a panic atmosphere. Some of them were heard to search for Seminar Room but they missed the target. After rampaging for about 45 minutes to an hour they left the site but during this time the huge number of police did not make any attempt to challenge the goons. This again raised question about the suspicious activity of police. Why the police intelligence could not have prior information about those gang? Even when the goons appeared in numbers then why the armed police were remained silent? Some police in private with the promise of anonymity said that they were asked to remain cool during the hooliganism, which was shocking and stoked criticism.

The junior doctors including senior doctors of the College and State along with the citizen of Bengal became so much angry at the incident that they all demanded for removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner.

Protests were found at all part of the country where the main demand was for Justice for R G Kar Doctor. But, with a very shameless way Bengal Government floated an idea where they suggested ladies and girl child to remain at home at night and no lady would be given Night Duty at their work place which was highly insulting to Women Community because when all over the world the girl child are working with equal competence with men then why such type of insinuating order or suggestion for Bengal girl? All were agitated.

The Junior Doctors Forum organised a Rally on 2nd September to Police Head Quarter at Lalbazar, at the heart of Kolkata, for submission a Memorandum highlighting the resignation of Police Commissioner for failing to handle the murder case and also to control the hooligans at Hospital on 14th August night.

The police stopped the procession much before the designated place and asked the leaders of the team for discussion which doctors declined. The police put up barricade made up of heavy steel structure tied with locks and shackles. The barricade was so high that it looked like a China's Great Wall. Doctors started waiting. Police adamant. Not allowing the procession near to the main building as doctor wished. Both group then was at the opposite side of the Iron Grill.

Entire nation looking at the protestors and was fearing of imminent scuffle between two as Bengal is already infamous for this type of scuffling which plagued the state for last 50 years or more but seen that the agitating doctors sat on the metalled road and started singing nationalistic songs with expressing their zeal for Justice and Resignation of Police Commissoner.

Police refused to open any dialogue but were heavily armed to nab the demonstrators which were not seen on 14th night when the goons thronged into the College premise.

Sun moved west. More students joined from different Medical Colleges but the crowd was calm and quiet excepting disciplined slogans for "We Demand Justice" and 'Resignation for CP'.

Police in large numbers sitting on the other side of barricade on chairs while the young qualified doctor students on the floor of metalled road.

Bengal witnessing a different kind of protest. No brickbats. No stone pelting. No abusing languages. Many said that these children made us remembering the golden era of Bengal when people were raising voice, protesting for demands but not polluting the atmosphere. Police officials came for dialogue but stalemate remained.

People from nearby tall buildings joined their voice and singing in chorus along with the decent protesters even the police were found nodding their heads and thumping toes to the ground in rhythmic style which was a rare scene to observe in Bengal's last 50 years history. So long, our political parties taught us to attack the police and police also unleashed their defence mechanism by lathicharge, chasing the protesters , spraying water jet from canon and in worst case firing. But, today though police was heavily armed but the protest was very peaceful.

Clock moving continuously. Dews start pouring. Normal Kolkata life coming to halt in the night. Buses were going off, but Lalbazar area was vibrant in this deep night also.

Individuals coming from different parts of the city to join with them. Celebrities forgetting their identity sat with them. A musical group came with their artists and instruments and brought a new life to the protest. The protest became an entertaining field but nobody forgot their cause of gathering and with more grit and zeal raising the voice for justice and resignation.

They did not have any food and had no desire for it also. The local residents offering a little which the doctors accepting with great respect. The local shopkeepers who were suffering for their business due to this agitation were also encouraging the children for their protest as all were aggrieved for the gruesome murder of Bengal's daughter, who was somebody's class mate, somebody's younger sister or somebody's didi. Protests became stronger. The more the night rolling the more people joining. The thick crowd and the continuous songs created such an ambience that local residents all became patriotic. The small vendors who sell door to door and could hardly maintain their family with their earnings also offering the cheap variety toffees, ground nut packets, moong dal packets etc. free which the cultured, sober doctors accepted but also offering prices for that. This showed the humanity from both side which was missing in Bengal Culture for a long long time when Political Slogan was Chakka Bandh, Bangla Bandh that polluted Bengal and crippled all development and humility. Earlier we had seen that the people who could destroy the government's property and caused much nuisance were felicitated by party and rewarded with more important portfolio in their organisation. Now, Bengal again coming back to that Bengal which Rabindranath, Vivekananda and others were ushered in. This, though the brutal murder, paining all of us, even it was made all happy that again Bengal getting back to the glory of humility and decency.

Times rolled by. Clock ticking to 4 o'clock in the morning. Deadlock continuing. Students though tired but determined to achieve their goal and all together putting pressure on administration. The eastern sky slowly changing colour. Children all stood up and welcomed the morning with our National Anthem which forced the cops to stand on and this scene, I think, the country witnessed for first time in its history.

They all were doctors. They had the knowledge of physiology, so, they offered tea and snacks to cops which was arranged by them. Some police accepted while others politely returned. All we who were present overwhelmed with this gesture and perhaps, it also might be the first time country witnessed.

Still there was no sign for negotiation from police officials.

The few residents who opened their houses in the night for the children for use their privy made others also inspired and they also in the morning opened their doors for protesters to use their house thus the total population mingled together forming a strong protest for the R G Kar Justice.

The sun in the eastern horizon. Small children going to school. No obstruction, No hindrance, about which Bengal was familiar. But the mothers brought those school girls to the protesters. The small children giving water bottles to their Didis as a token support and Dadas and Didis did not hesitate to accept the love and affection of their little sisters, at the same time they bow in respect to their mothers for their blessing. This was New Bengal we noticed. And this is for Abhaya. Who by laying herself died, knit the entire nation together, particularly Bengal coming back to its old days of glory.

Not only the little girls but the employees of different offices came in the morning expressing solidarity. Some group even brought the packet food from Restaurant for their brothers and sisters and shared the platform with all young doctors for Justice and Resignation. The doctors accepted the love and affection with gratitude and took the food for sharing amongst themselves.

Sun was at Zenith. Deadlock continued. Singing in chorous was heard from a great distance. People at far away were shedding tears for the girl and crushing teeth against each other to chew the heads of the murderers. Police officials came and returned after being refused once again.

The Sun was inclined. Suddenly barricades removed. Doctors invited to move to the destined place. The group silently moving near to the desired building. The procession stopped and the delegates of 22 doctors went ahead with their chartered demand.

No slogan. No shouting. It's a new beginning.

After an hour the delegates came out of a failed meeting but withdrew the gathering with the hope that Memorandum would be read in true spirit. They all returned for deciding further strategy.

Before returning another heart touching example the doctors set up when the people saw that doctors were sweeping the road with brooms in hand, collecting empty bottles, used food packets, strewn papers and putting all debris in sacks and those filled sacks kept at nearby vat, thus they showed their commitment to the society despite their agony and gave message for all about the importance of cleanliness.

Protests did not stop. People from all walks of life organising movement. Painters from Rabindrabharati University making different painstaking art, Senior doctors along with medical staffs organised Human Chain for a stretch of 14 km without obstructing traffic.

Protest and Normal Life are living together. The Kolkata life and Bengal Life were not at all affected but protest continued. The outrage of people went on increasing. People from all sphere regularly joining hands even the Ruling Party Leaders also come in support. Thus a New Bengal is coming up. Abhaya or Tilottama or Nirbhaya, our daughter, our sister united Bengal and Bengalees in a new way and driving us for a Bright Rising Sun with strong determination.

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