Kolkata/IBNS: Bengali film and television personalities, who are often slammed for being bankrolled by the Mamata Banerjee government and her party's eco-system, hit the streets of Kolkata on Sunday evening demanding justice for the rape and murder of a 31-year-old post-graduate medical student at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

In what is seen as an unprecedented stance of the industry that has become the butt of jibes by masses for its surrender to the ruling regime, the likes of Saswata Chatterjee, Anjan Dutt, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Abir Chatterjee, Srabanti Chatterjee, Subhashree Ganguly, Paoli Dam and others rallied from North Kolkata's Khanna More to Shyambazar Five-Point crossing in protest against the rape-murder, demanding justice for the victim and safe atmosphere at work place.

"There should be quick delivery of justice. Otherwise more people will come out on streets and that won't be good for Kolkata and Bengal," said Saswata Chatterjee as he walked about a kilometer amid the "we want justice" chants.

More than a week ago, the news of the rape and murder of the junior doctor was reported from RG Kar Hospital bringing the state administration under scanner over the alleged cover-up and fishy investigation by police before the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation by the Calcutta High Court.

Ditching the luxury cars, the celebrities on Sunday plied on three private route-buses from Tollygunge's Technicians' Studio to North Kolkata's Khanna More from where they started their rally, which was one of the major anti-rape processions that rocked the city daylong despite downpour.

Though multiple protests have rocked the state and unnerved the administration, many apprehend the cry for justice will eventually tone down with time leaving the case fall into a track of endless legal battles.

The most recent in the city has been the death of an 18-year-old Jadavpur University student who died by suicide after facing severe ragging. Even after a year, the university, which faced massive outrage and protests, failed to take any step further than issuing show-cause notices to the identified students.

"I think justice has been delayed in the case of the Jadavpur incident. For the kind of outrage the RG Kar case has triggered, I don't think justice will be delayed this time. We want an immediate justice," Parambrata Chattopadhyay said on the sidelines of the rally.

The 43-year-old actor-director, who in the past was criticised for joining a controversial state-appointed committee for a coal project in Adivasi land, added, "Though the investigation is now under CBI, we demand the identification of the lapses that have led to the crime. The lapses will have to be fixed for once and for all."

Though the Kolkata Police has arrested one civic volunteer- named Sanjoy Roy- in a quick response to the crime, doctors who are on strike as a protest suspect there were more involved in the incident.

The hospital's initial message to the victim's parents that their daughter committed suicide and the renovation work near the crime scene within hours after CBI's takeover of the case have raised doubts over the state administration's intent.

Ankush Hazra, one of the leading Tollywood actors, says, "People fear the protest will die down eventually with the discovery of a new issue. But that's not going to happen this time. This protest will go on until justice is delivered."

Bengali film A-listers Subhashree Ganguly and Srabanti Chatterjee, who were at the forefront of the rally, said the slogan demanding the justice is enough message delivered from the rally, which crossed Shyambazar Five Point crossing and walked a few miles despite the police's Section 144 which bars any gathering.

"It is so unfortunate to still raise demand for women's safety in our city even in 2024. There should be a law which hands over quick justice," says Paoli Dam as she continued her march braving the incessant rains.

Fashion designer Abhisek Roy, who has worked with Bengali celebs as well as Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, days ago deleted an Instagram post showing he was receiving an award from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a mark of protest against the administration.

"We will have no faith in the judicial system if the RG Kar rape-murder victim fails to get  justice despite this level of protest," Roy tells IBNS.

Mamata's new directive suggesting no night duties for women doctors draws flak

Adding more fuel to the soaring public anger over the rape-murder case that had triggered night vigil by lakhs of women and men across the country, the Mamata Banerjee government, which was subjected to criticism over its handling of rape cases in the past including the infamous Park Street and Kamduni incidents, issued a new directive suggesting the hospitals to avoid allotting night duties to women to ensure safety of female doctors.

"Oh, that's sad. Is it some kind of a solution? Then women will have to stay indoors always. We will see how things pan out," Ishaa Saha tells IBNS.

"I dare them to implement it. Let them see how things function if women are not alloted on night shifts," Oindrila Sen thundered at the fag end of the rally.

New-age television actress Rooqma Ray said, "We can't accept this. The directive means women are not safe at night. The administration has the sole responsibility to provide security to women."

(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)