The gruesome murder of a young doctor while on duty in a state-run Kolkata hospital has provoked many men and women, including politicians and celebrities, to hit the streets to join a massive ‘Reclaim the Night for Women' protest in at least 45 different locations across West Bengal at midnight on Wednesday, on the eve of the country's 78th Independence Day.
According to the organisers in several districts, the protestors will start gathering late on Wednesday night and their agitation will continue after midnight on Independence Day. Their demand: freedom for Bengal’s women.

A social media campaign has been urging people from all walks of life to join the protest, which is being described as ‘For women’s independence on the midnight of Independence,’ with participants encouraged to hold candles and blow conch shells, said news reports.

Details about the locations earmarked for the protest in different parts of Kolkata and in other towns across Bengal are being widely shared. On WhatsApp, slogans such as 'Justice for RG Kar', 'The Night is Ours', 'Reclaim the Night', 'Meyera Raat er Dhokhol Koro (Women seize the night)', and 'Meyera Raat er Dokhol Nao… Sankha Dhonite Bhoriye Dao (Women seize the night… fill it with the sound of conch shells) are being circulated.

Delhi, Bengaluru, Guwahati join in

Other cities like Delhi, Bengaluru and Guwahati too will hold 'Women, Reclaim the Night' protest events. “We are gathering peacefully to reclaim our night”, says the posters.

Meanwhile, widespread agitation by junior doctors has crippled state healthcare services as emergency and outdoor departments too are not functioning in most state-run hospitals.