“Freedom at Midnight”: Impressive images of united Bengali women on the streets of Calcutta

At midnight, women across Kolkata took to the streets to demand safety, freedom and justice for the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protests, under the slogan “Women, take back the night,” reportedly took place in over 45 locations, starting just before midnight and continuing until 5 a.m. on Independence Day. Striking images of these protests under the midnight sky, demonstrating “for the women, with the women,” flooded social media and awakened the collective conscience of the public.

“Freedom at midnight – Bengali women occupy the streets of Bengal,” reads the caption of the images shared on X.

“It's 2:50 am and we are still out there demanding justice for our sister. West Bengal has suffered a lot, there is a new wave of protests everywhere. Stand with us,” wrote another, sharing a video from the protest site.

“The land of Maa Kali has finally awakened…” wrote another, sharing videos of women protesting on the streets under the midnight sky.

Gruesome rape and murder case of a doctor from Calcutta

The body of a medical student was found in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College on Friday, bearing horrific marks of sexual assault, strangulation and suffocation. The victim, a second-year student of the hospital's pulmonology department, was found half-naked.

The autopsy revealed gruesome rape and murder. The young doctor was brutally sexually abused before being strangled and suffocated. Her body bore numerous injuries, including bleeding from her eyes, mouth and genitals. She also suffered injuries to her face, hands, legs and neck. The incident occurred between 3 and 5 a.m.

The prime suspect, Sanjay Roy, a volunteer with no connection with the hospital, was arrested soon after the crime. Police said the accused returned home after committing the crime and washed his clothes to cover the evidence. However, bloodstains on his shoes led to his arrest. He was remanded to 14 days' judicial custody on charges under sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Following an order from the Calcutta High Court, the CBI has taken over the investigation and taken the accused Sanjay Roy into custody.