Agartala 16 August 2024: The brutal murder and assault of a female junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata have sparked widespread outrage, not only in West Bengal but across the entire country. The inhuman torture and heinous killing of the female doctor evoke painful memories of past atrocities such as the Nirbhaya case in Delhi, the Hathras-Unnao incidents in Uttar Pradesh, and the Kathua rape case in Jammu and Kashmir. It also recalls the horrific incidents of Hetal Parekh’s rape and murder during the Left Front regime in West Bengal and the brutal killing of Monti Deb following rape in Rangachhara village, Mohanpur Block, Tripura, under the current government in 2020.

On behalf of the women’s wing of the Bengali community in Tripura, we strongly condemn and protest against the barbaric rape and murder of the female doctor at RG Kar Medical College. We demand that all culprits involved in this horrific crime be identified and arrested immediately, and exemplary punishment be meted out to them.

The entire nation is aware that after the Nirbhaya case in Delhi, stringent laws were introduced to curb such heinous crimes, and in some cases, the culprits were punished. However, crimes such as rape and murder have not only continued but appear to be on the rise. If such crimes can occur in trusted places like hospitals, then where are women safe? Besides the delay in timely administrative action and political maneuvering, many attribute the rise in crimes against women to the increasingly consumerist society.

In light of the current situation, we make the following demands:

1. Swift Justice: Expedite the trial of all crimes against women through fast-track courts and ensure that exemplary punishments are given to the culprits.
2. Economic Empowerment: Ensure the economic empowerment of women by providing reservations in the workforce and creating job opportunities.
3. Self-Defense Training: Introduce self-defense training, such as judo and karate, from the school level to make women self-reliant in protecting themselves.
4. Ban on Obscene Content: Ban the broadcasting of obscene and sexually provocative advertisements on TV, cinema, and literature.
5. Ban on Narcotics: Stop the production and sale of all forms of drugs and intoxicants and provide alternative employment opportunities for those affected.
6. Justice for Udaipur Incident: Ensure that the perpetrators involved in the killing of teacher Abhijit De in Udaipur receive appropriate punishment, and provide adequate compensation and a government job to one of his family members.

These demands are crucial to ensuring a safer environment for women and upholding justice in our society.