Eastern India plunges into darkness as thousands protest RG Kar Doctor’s murder with ‘Lights Out’ candle march
by Aditi VermaIn a powerful show of solidarity, eastern India’s residents switched off their lights and took to the streets with candles on Wednesday night to protest the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The incident took place at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on September 4.
Visuals showed during the protest, people held torches in their hands, waving them vigorously while chanting slogans with intense passion. The atmosphere was charged with high energy and determination as the crowd moved together like a powerful wave. Among them, some protesters waved the Indian flag with pride, adding a patriotic fervor to the scene. Their faces were filled with resolve, and their voices echoed loudly, demanding justice. Some participants held banners and placards with bold slogans, their messages calling for change and action.
Kolkata witnessed an unprecedented protest on Wednesday evening as thousands of residents joined the ‘Lights Out’ campaign to express their outrage over the gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Organized by junior doctors from state-run hospitals across West Bengal, the protest called on citizens to turn off their lights and light a candle or diya from 9 pm to 10 pm as a symbolic gesture titled “Let There Be Light, Let There Be Justice.”
At 9 pm, the city’s prominent landmarks, including the Victoria Memorial and Raj Bhavan, went dark as citizens in Kolkata and its suburbs participated in the protest. Key locations such as Shyambazar five-point crossing, Moulali, New Town Biswa Bangla Gate, Rashbehari crossing, Behala, Garia, Ballygunge, Hazra crossing, and Jadavpur 8B bus stand became focal points for the candlelight marches.
West Bengal’s Governor, CV Ananda Bose, expressed his solidarity with the protest by switching off the lights at Raj Bhavan and lighting a candle, stating, “When light is fear, darkness is dear.” Senior BJP leaders, including Sukanta Majumdar and Agnimitra Paul, also joined in by turning off the lights of their homes and participating in a protest rally.
The call for justice resonated beyond Kolkata. Doctors at AIIMS Delhi, Safdarjung, and Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital organized a candlelight march in the national capital, showing support for their colleagues and demanding swift action against those responsible for the heinous crime.
The protest reflects growing public outrage and demands for justice in the wake of the incident, which has sparked nationwide condemnation and calls for urgent action to ensure the safety of women and healthcare professionals.