The Kolkata Police have taken legal action against unidentified individuals for allegedly shouting “Kashmir Mange Azadi” (Kashmir wants freedom) slogans during a protest rally in the Jadavpur area of the city. This rally was held on Tuesday in response to the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital on August 9, which has sparked widespread outrage among healthcare professionals across India.
An FIR has been filed after a video of the protest went viral, showing some attendees chanting the slogans. The case is registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including Section 152, which addresses actions threatening India’s sovereignty, and Section 285, which relates to public safety.
The emergence of these slogans during a rally focused on justice for the murdered doctor has ignited controversy. The slogans have drawn attention to the ongoing conflict in Jammu and Kashmir and have shifted the focus away from the original purpose of the protest.
The Kolkata Police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those responsible for the slogans, and the organizers of the rally may also be questioned.
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party in West Bengal has condemned the incident. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated, “We are not supporting this. We are opposing and condemning this… Kashmir is a part of India. It is ours. We condemn this separatist approach amid the RG Kar issue.”
The original aim of the rally was to call for improved safety measures for medical professionals, especially for female trainees and staff who often work long hours in vulnerable conditions.
