Kolkata rape and murder: student leader gets bail, teachers protest

West Bengal government appoints new Chief Secretary amid protests over rape-murder case, student leader released on bail.

Amid the ongoing protests over the rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, the West Bengal government on Saturday (August 31, 2024) appointed senior IAS officer Manoj Pant as the State’s Chief Secretary and released one of the student organisers of the August 27 ‘March to Nabanna’ on the instructions of the Calcutta High Court.

Mr. Pant, a 1991-batch IAS officer, will succeed B.P. Gopalika, who retired on Saturday (August 31, 2024). The bureaucratic reshuffle comes at a time that the West Bengal government is dealing with the raging protests over the rape-murder at the State-run hospital.

Sayan Lahiri, one of the leaders of Paschimbango Chattro Samaj, was arrested on the evening of August 27 for playing an active role in the ‘March to Nabanna’ rally. Granting bail to the student leader, the Calcutta High Court on Friday (August 30, 2024) had said that Mr. Lahiri appears to be an absolutely insignificant character who does not hold any position of power or influence “in the massive cry for justice in the aftermath of the RG Kar incident”.

After his release, the student leader thanked Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and described incidents of stone pelting and violence as unfortunate. About 200 people were arrested for participating in the rally, which had turned violent. The West Bengal government is likely to approach the Supreme Court challenging the bail granted to the student leader.

With people from all walks of life taking to the streets demanding justice for the accused on Saturday, teachers from more than 20 reputed schools took out a procession. The ruling Trinamool Congress leadership also held demonstrations. Under the banner of ‘Teachers for RG Kar’, hundreds of teachers walked from Sealdah station to Shyambazar. The R.G. Kar Hospital is located a few hundred metres away from Shyambazar.

The Trinamool leadership, which is pressing for stringent punishment for those convicted of crimes of sexual assault, held demonstration in the city. Senior Trinamool leader and State Minister Shashi Panja was seen at one such protest.

Meanwhile, the ripples of the protests were evident in the cultural world with singer Shreya Ghoshal on Saturday announcing that she had decided to postpone her concert in Kolkata and that she was deeply affected by the rape and murder of the junior doctor. Prior to this, singer Arijit Singh, who also hails from the State, had composed a Bengali song demanding justice for the rape victim amid growing outrage.