Kolkata's 'lights out' candle march highlights RG Kar doctor’s tragic death | WATCH

As protests against the heinous rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital intensified, the city witnessed a moving display of solidarity on Wednesday night. From 9 pm to 10 pm, residents turned off their lights and took to the streets with candles, creating a powerful symbolic act of resistance.

Led by junior doctors from West Bengal's state-run hospitals, the protest—titled “Let There Be Light, Let There Be Justice”—called on citizens to switch off all lights and light candles or diyas as part of a ‘lights out’ demonstration. At 9 pm, major landmarks like the Victoria Memorial and Raj Bhavan, as well as homes across Kolkata and its suburbs, were plunged into darkness, illuminating the streets with the glow of thousands of candles.

Prominent Protests Across the City

Protests were staged at key locations in Kolkata, including Shyambazar five-point crossing, Moulali, Biswa Bangla Gate in New Town, Rashbehari crossing, Behala, Garia, Ballygunge, Hazra crossing, and Jadavpur 8B bus stand. This wave of protests extended beyond Kolkata, with many areas of West Bengal joining the movement.

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: People switch off their lights as a symbol of protest against the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape-murder incident.

(Visuals from Jadavpur) pic.twitter.com/sSeFHH5DuA

— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2024

Raj Bhavan Joins the Protest

West Bengal’s Raj Bhavan also participated, with its lights switched off as a sign of protest. Governor CV Ananda Bose personally supported the cause, lighting a candle in solidarity with the movement. Speaking to the media, he remarked, "When light is fear, darkness is dear," reflecting on the gravity of the situation.

#WATCH | Kolkata: Lights at West Bengal Raj Bhawan switched off as a symbol of protest against the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape-murder incident. pic.twitter.com/RdFV1L6MjI

— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2024

Nationwide Solidarity from AIIMS and BJP Leaders

Political leaders, including BJP’s Sukanta Majumdar and Agnimitra Paul, expressed their support by turning off the lights in their homes during a rally on Wednesday. The call for justice also echoed in New Delhi, where doctors from AIIMS, Safdarjung, and GTB Hospital held candlelight marches. In a show of unity, resident doctors, faculty members, and nursing staff from AIIMS Delhi joined in a silent protest under the banner of the “#JusticeForRGKar” movement.

Father of the Deceased Doctor Speaks Out

Amidst these protests, the father of the deceased doctor shared his harrowing experience with the media. "They told me she had committed suicide. We waited for three hours to see our daughter, begging the police to let us see her," he revealed. He also questioned the authorities’ delayed actions, asking, “Why was the post-mortem conducted late? Why was the First Information Report (FIR) registered so late?”

What Sparked the Nationwide Outrage?

The protests erupted after the discovery of the doctor’s body on August 9 in the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident, involving a postgraduate trainee, has shocked the nation, sparking widespread calls for justice and accountability.