DIMAPUR — In protest against the recent case of rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata, the Dimapur Bengali Students’ Union (DBSU) organised a candle march rally in Dimapur on Sunday.
The march, which began at Ramthakur Sevashram in Railway Colony and concluded at Donor’s Club on Kalibari Road, also saw participation from various student bodies, including the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) and the Gorkha Students’ Union Dimapur, as well as organisations such as the Dimapur Bengali Samaj and the Nagaland Medical Dealers Association (NMDA), among others.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, Dipankar Sarkar, president of the DBSU, stated that the union condemned the act and demanded justice for the victim, urging for stricter laws. He noted that while the DBSU led the rally, other organisations were also invited to be part of the event.
Hinoto P Awomi, president of DNSU, also condemned the act and, expressing solidarity with the DBSU, called for the capital punishment of those involved.
Arijit Sharma, joint secretary of the NMDA, criticised the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, questioning how such a crime against a woman could occur in a state led by a woman. Condemning the act on behalf of the NMDA, he called for strict laws to prevent such incidents in the future.
Around 800 people attended the protest, holding placards demanding justice.
Meanwhile, the Inner Wheel Club of Dimapur also held a protest at the Rotary Centre, Dimapur, where various NGOs and organisations joined to express their collective outrage and condemnation of the heinous crime committed against the doctor at R G Kar Medical College, Kolkata.
The event featured speeches from prominent leaders, including Dr. D R Sharma, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dimapur branch; Monoj Bhattacharjee, president of Rotary Club, Dimapur; Chandu Agarwal, PDG Rotary Club; Shobha Jain, president of Inner Wheel Club, Dimapur; Pinky Agarwal, vice chairman of IWC 324; Advocate P B Paul; and advocate Ati Kamei, according to a press release.
Representatives from JCI, Jain Mahila Samaj, Agarwal Mahila Samaj, Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan, Blue Venda, and others were also present.
They strongly condemned the crime and called for swift justice. They emphasised the need for a societal shift towards respect and equality for women, advocating for stronger laws and increasing public awareness to prevent such atrocities in the future.
The protest concluded with a united appeal to the government to take immediate action against the perpetrators and implement measures to ensure the safety of women across the state.