New Delhi: Fans of rival football clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal united in protest on Sunday, seeking justice for a 31-year-old trainee doctor who was raped and murdered in Kolkata. The protest, which turned confrontational, saw several demonstrators detained after police used batons to disperse the crowd and forced them into police vans.Protest at iconic stadiumThe rally took place outside Kolkatas renowned Salt Lake stadium, the scheduled venue for a Durand Cup match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Due to the escalating law and order issues, the match was canceled on the previous day. All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey criticized the situation, stating, It is very shameful law and order has completely collapsed in West Bengal. A football match could not happen... and look at the police deployment, it looks like a riot is going on.Despite the match cancellation, a large number of fans from both clubs gathered, brandishing their team flags and holding placards demanding justice for the victim. The woman, a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, was brutally attacked and killed, sparking outrage across the nation.Mamata Banerjee Shame Shame ...Mamata Banerjees Kolkata police resort to Lathicharge, uses Tear Gas,Detained East Bengal & Mohun Bagan football fans who gathered outside Salt Lake Stadium to seek justice for the daughter of Bengal raped & killed.These incidents are… pic.twitter.com/sbQXo8vpMn— Rahul Jha (@JhaRahul_Bihar) August 18, 2024Police restrictionsBidhan Nagar police had issued warnings against assembling near the stadium, citing restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). As the crowd grew and chanted slogans condemning the assault, police intervened with force, leading to the lathicharge and subsequent detentions.In Kolkata, a match between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal was canceled by Mamata Banerjee to prevent the R.G. Kar Medical College rape protest from gaining attention. Now, fans of both teams have united to protest, demanding justice and police has resorted to #LathiCharge… pic.twitter.com/gwTqWHBPqP— Know The Nation (@knowthenation) August 18, 2024Ongoing nationwide protestsThe rape and murder case continues to fuel widespread protests. Doctors across India, including those in Delhi and Kolkata, participated in a 24-hour strike that concluded early Sunday morning, with ongoing demonstrations reflecting the deep public anger and demand for justice.
