BJP Women Leaders Protest Against Alleged Silence of State Women's Commission

Senior BJP women leaders organized rallies to the state women's commission, protesting its silence on the rape-murder of a doctor at R G Kar hospital. Police detained activists at one rally and obstructed another procession led by BJP leaders, leading to criticism of police actions.

Senior BJP women leaders and members of the party's women wing organized separate rallies on Friday to protest the state women's commission's alleged silence on the rape-murder of an on-duty doctor at R G Kar hospital.

Earlier in the day, police stopped one rally, detaining around 20 activists who were taken away in prison vans as they marched towards the commission's office at Karunamoyee in Salt Lake.

Another procession, led by senior BJP women leaders including Agnimitra Paul, Debasree Choudhury, and Locket Chatterjee, also faced police obstruction on its way to the women's commission's office at Karunamoyee. Chatterjee criticized the police, stating, ''Police cannot ensure women's safety in the state. They cannot prevent evidence destruction related to the RG Kar hospital crime but can brutally lathi-charge peaceful protesters. Our protest is symbolic and peaceful. Why are the police so scared?'' Union Minister and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar had previously announced that party members would lock the Women's Commission office in protest against the panel's alleged silence on the case, accusing the panel of partisanship.

On August 9, police recovered the body of the woman postgraduate trainee doctor from the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

(With inputs from agencies.)