Kolkata: Protests have broken out across West Bengal in response to the arrest of Kalatan Dasgupta, a leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), who was actively involved in advocating for justice in the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Dasgupta’s arrest has led to significant public unrest, with major protests occurring in several parts of Kolkata such as Charu Market, Jadavpore, and Behala, as well as in other districts including Siliguri, Durgapur, and Burdwan. Demonstrators have surrounded police stations and held rallies, expressing deep frustration with the government’s handling of the case and Dasgupta’s subsequent detention.
DYFI State Secretary Meenakshi Mukherjee vehemently criticized the arrest, suggesting that Dasgupta is being unjustly targeted to undermine the “Justice for RG Kar” movement, which she describes as having evolved into a widespread people’s movement supported by various community segments including doctors and educators.
Further complicating the public discourse, Kallol Majumdar, secretary of the CPI(M) Kolkata district committee, accused the government of employing underhanded tactics to quell the movement, including alleged honey-trapping and conspiracy to arrest youth leaders. These developments have intensified the clash between government forces and opposition groups, pointing to a deepening crisis that could lead to more sustained protests and legal battles in the days ahead.