kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, August 9: The second anniversary of the tragic RG Kar incident, ‘Abhaya’ was remembered across West Bengal on Sunday as the state government organised a special tribute at government hospitals and healthcare institutions. For the first time under a government initiative, a formal programme was held to remember the young doctor whose rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in 2024 had triggered widespread outrage across the country.

At 11 am, a two-minute silence was observed at all government hospitals, health centres and other government-run healthcare institutions across the state. Doctors, nurses, healthcare workers and other employees took part in the observance and paid tribute to the victim.

Before the two-minute silence began, lamps were lit in memory of the young doctor. The symbolic lighting of lamps was followed by a period of silence as those present remembered the victim and expressed solidarity with her family. The state-wide programme was organised as an official gesture of remembrance and respect on the second anniversary of the incident.

The incident took place on August 9, 2024, when a woman doctor was raped and murdered inside the emergency department of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The horrific incident sent shockwaves across the country and sparked a massive movement demanding justice and accountability.

The incident led to prolonged protests across Kolkata and different parts of the state. Doctors, medical students, healthcare workers and ordinary citizens came out on the streets, organising rallies, demonstrations and candlelight vigils. Large sections of society participated in the protests, while doctors and activists also resorted to hunger strikes and other forms of agitation to demand justice for the victim.

The movement surrounding the RG Kar case continued for months and remained one of the most significant public protests in recent years. People from different sections of society repeatedly gathered on the streets, raising slogans and demanding a fair investigation and punishment for those responsible.

Two years after the incident, the memory of August 9, 2024, remains fresh among people across Bengal. The case has continued to remain a major point of discussion in the state, with the incident also having a significant impact on political and social discourse.

The political circumstances in the state have also changed considerably during these two years. Those who were in opposition at the time of the incident are now in government, adding another dimension to the anniversary observance. The victim's mother is now also associated with the ruling party as an MLA, making the remembrance particularly significant in the changed political landscape.

The decision to hold an official two-minute silence at government healthcare institutions marked a significant departure from previous years, when remembrance programmes were largely associated with civil society groups, doctors and protesting organisations. This year, the state government itself took the initiative to formally remember the victim across government-run health institutions.

The observance at 11 am brought together healthcare workers across the state in a moment of silence and reflection. The lighting of lamps before the silence served as a symbolic tribute to the young doctor and a reminder of the tragedy that had deeply affected the medical fraternity and the wider society.

The second anniversary has once again brought back memories of the events of August 9, 2024, when the discovery of the young doctor's body at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital sparked anger and grief across the country. The subsequent protests transformed into a broad social movement, with people from various backgrounds demanding justice.

Two years on, the state-wide remembrance at government hospitals has once again placed the memory of ‘Abhaya’ at the centre of public attention. The two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect for the victim and as a reminder of the demand for justice that had brought thousands of people onto the streets after the incident.