The Supreme Court will today hear the case related to the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will oversee the proceedings.

On Sunday night, thousands gathered in Kolkata and across the globe, demanding justice for the victim. These demonstrations were part of a larger wave of protests, organised under the banner of “Reclaim the Night,” a movement calling for safety and justice for women in public spaces.

Supreme Court’s Earlier Hearing

The Supreme Court on August 20 termed the incident “horrific” and took additional measures to address safety concerns within the healthcare sector. The court issued several directives, including the formation of a 10-member National Task Force to develop protocols for ensuring the safety of doctors and healthcare workers across the country.

The court called upon protesting doctors who had been striking in solidarity with the victim to return to work, stating that “justice and medicine cannot be stopped.” 

The case initially faced delays, with the Supreme Court, during its hearing on August 22, criticising the Kolkata Police for their sluggish handling of the investigation. It was not until August 13 that the Calcutta High Court intervened, transferring the investigation from the Kolkata Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI began its probe the following day, August 14.

The victim’s body was discovered in a seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College on August 9, bearing severe injuries. A civic volunteer was arrested the next day in connection with the crime, but the investigation has since widened, resulting in the arrest of the college’s former principal as well.

Protests Worldwide 

From the streets of Kolkata to the cities of Europe, Asia, and the United States, the global Indian community rallied for justice Sunday night. Over 130 protests took place in 25 countries, including major cities like Stockholm, Sydney, and New York. Protesters – many clad in black -held vigils, sang in Bengali, and chanted slogans in solidarity with the victim.

The streets of Kolkata were transformed into protest sites as men and women, young and old, took to the streets to demand justice. From forming human chains to holding burning torches, protesters expressed their anger and sorrow for the victim, who they symbolically named “Tilottama” or “Abhaya.” 

“Whenever I think about the torment, the pain experienced by my daughter on that night, I shudder. She had dreams to serve society. Now, all these protesters are my children,” the victim’s mother said at a rally in Kolkata, as quoted by news agency PTI.

A 14-kilometre-long human chain stretching from Shyambazar in North Kolkata to the suburb of Sodepur was also organised. Thousands of citizens, including rival football fans from East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting, stood shoulder to shoulder, united in their call for justice.

Centre vs State 

Amid the protests, a political clash has emerged between the Centre and the West Bengal government, with the former accusing the state of “unpardonable” non-cooperation in extending logistical support to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which was tasked with providing security at RG Kar Medical College. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs, in its application to the Supreme Court, has called the lack of cooperation from the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government “symptomatic of a systemic malaise.”

The Centre has urged the top court to direct the West Bengal government to fully cooperate with the CISF, failing which it has requested contempt proceedings against the officials responsible for non-compliance
 

A potential disaster was averted as a conspiracy to derail the Prayagraj-Bhiwani Kalindi Express in Uttar Pradesh was uncovered on Monday, police said. A train collided with an LPG gas cylinder placed on the tracks near a crossing in Kanpur’s Muderi village Sunday morning. The quick response of the loco pilot, who immediately applied emergency brakes, prevented what could have been a catastrophic accident.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 8:20 am as the Kalindi Express made its regular journey towards Bhiwani in Haryana. While passing through Shivrajpur, the loco pilot spotted an LPG gas cylinder lying on the railway tracks. Acting swiftly, the pilot slammed the emergency brakes, but the train hit the cylinder, which was thrown clear of the tracks due to the impact. No passengers were harmed, and the train came to a halt shortly after the collision.

The train remained stationary for about 20 minutes at the site as the loco pilot reported the incident to the Railway Protection Force (RPF). The express later made another stop at Bilhaur station for a preliminary investigation before continuing its journey.

Alongside the damaged LPG cylinder, the RPF and Uttar Pradesh Police recovered a bottle filled with petrol, matchboxes, and other suspicious items, including a bag. The bottle appeared to be fashioned into a makeshift petrol bomb.

A forensic investigation has been launched, said Kanpur Commissioner of Police Harish Chandra, adding that railways and law enforcement agencies have intensified security measures on critical railway routes. The RPF, in collaboration with the UP Police Dog Squad, is conducting a thorough investigation, scouring the area for further clues. Additional security forces have been deployed along the Anwarganj-Kasganj railway route.