Subhasish Bose Joins East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Supporters In Protest Against RG Kar Rape-Murder Horror – WATCH

Following the death of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Hospital on August 9, who was allegedly raped and murdered, the whole country is witnessing widespread protests, especially in Kolkata.

Kolkata: In a rare sight, fans of three big clubs in Kolkata – East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting – joined hands in front of the iconic Salt Lake stadium in protest against the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Nearly a thousand supporters of the three clubs combined gathered outside the stadium with placards and posters even as a Durand Cup derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan was cancelled with police citing concerns over the law and order situation.

Supporters of the clubs held each other’s flags and raised slogans demanding justice for the victim’s family, with a huge contingent of the police keeping a vigil on the situation. Indian national team footballer and Mohun Bagan captain Subhasish Bose also joined the protest.

SUBHASISH BOSE ⤵️ ❤️❤️#WeWantJustice #RGKarProtestpic.twitter.com/SuYMY7YTA2

— Tᴏʀᴄʜ Bᴇᴀʀᴇʀs (@TORCH__BEARERS) August 18, 2024

The arterial road connecting the city’s northern end to the south was eventually blocked at different locations, including Kadapara and Beleghata Connector crossings, disrupting the flow of traffic to and from the airport. As the sun went down and darkness set in, more supporters of the three clubs poured in to join the protests.

“We want justice for the sister who was gang-raped and murdered. Together, we Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan fans have assembled here peacefully. Why so many policemen have been deployed here? Why the match had to be cancelled? Don’t we have the right to demand justice for the victim,” asked Bittu Senapati, a Mohun Bagan supporter.

This is historic.
For the first time perhaps, flags of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan — the two iconic football clubs of Kolkata — are flying together in unity to protest against the gangrape and murder of the young doctor. #JusticeForMoumita pic.twitter.com/5jMdgSX19w

— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) August 18, 2024

Screaming at the police, a woman dressed in Mohun Bagan’s maroon-green colours said, “Where were you when the vandals took siege of the RG Kar Hospital, and doctors, nurses and common people ran for their lives? Where were you when costly medical equipment at the hospital was being vandalised?”

Waving the Tricolour along with the flags of the three clubs, a group of football lovers also sang the national anthem amid chants of “We want justice”. “We only have one demand, we want justice for the doctor and her family,” an East Bengal supporter said, holding a festoon that said, “Two clubs but one voice, justice for RG Kar.”

The competent authorities didn’t give the green light for the #KolkataDerby citing availability of adequate security personnel for the match but were actually present in numbers when the supporters of East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan came along with their apolitical,… pic.twitter.com/NIqEIUl9Nw

— (@EB_LHA1920) August 18, 2024

All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey also reached the site a while later and met the angry fans of the three clubs. “It is very shameful. Law and order have completely collapsed in West Bengal. A football match could not happen… and look at police deployment, it looks like a riot is going on,” Chaubey, also a BJP leader, told PTI-Video.

With PTI Inputs