Rival Soccer Fans Unite in Protest for Justice

Supporters of Indian soccer clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan united in a peaceful protest against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital. The Durand Cup match was canceled amid security concerns, and fans gathered to demand justice for the victim, showing unprecedented camaraderie.

Supporters of Indian soccer clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan put aside their bitter rivalry to unite in protest against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital.

The Durand Cup match between the century-old clubs from Kolkata was canceled on Sunday due to security concerns, but fans gathered near the Salt Lake Stadium demanding justice for the 31-year-old victim. The doctor died this month at R.G. Kar Hospital, sparking nationwide protests by doctors. The unusual solidarity between the rival fans did not surprise Mohun Bagan general secretary Debashis Dutta.

"They represented society... an incident like this saddens all of us, and we all want a quick solution," Dutta commented. Some supporters were injured as police dispersed the crowds on Sunday.

Arundhati Biswas, an East Bengal supporter, suffered minor injuries during the protest but noted the unexpected camaraderie between rival groups. "I never thought I'd see sworn enemies come together like this," she told Reuters on Monday. Fans from another local club, Mohammedan Sporting, also joined the protest. Subrata Ray, a Mohun Bagan fan arrested during the protest, stated that the demonstration was peaceful, and they were released later that night after intervention by Indian soccer federation chief Kalyan Chaubey.

Chaubey, also a politician affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, condemned the arrests, saying the fans had gathered for a "peaceful march." India and Mohun Bagan defender Subhashish Bose also joined the protest, emphasizing that "everyone wants justice."