Fans and players of arch-rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant united for a common cause, raising their voices for quick justice in the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital, on Sunday.
Several protests have rocked Kolkata since the incident on August 9 and Sunday saw another iteration, on the streets and social media.
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“ … I am happy that Bengalis have united for an important cause. Bangal and Ghoti, both sides have stood by their sister. As a child, we want no mother should remain without one. So, until justice is served, no matter how many obstacles come, we will not stop,” wrote East Bengal midfielder Souvik Chakrabarti on Facebook.
Mohun Bagan, on the other hand, saw its former captain Pritam Kotal take to social media. “Not at all the right example to our society. We deserve better and justice should be served,” he wrote.
East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant were supposed to play in the Durand Cup 2024, at the Salt Lake Stadium on August 18, but ‘lack of adequate security’ saw the match being abandoned on the eve of the game.
Moreover, Bidhannagar City Police warned against protests or rallies without police permission, issuing section 168 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, earlier on Sunday.
But the fans of both clubs flocked to the streets nevertheless, wearing jerseys, carrying flags and shouting slogans of “ Bangal Ghotir ektai shawr, justice for RG Kar” (Fans of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have united with one cause, justice for RG Kar).
“Both the clubs decided to unfurl Tifo and shout slogans while reaching the Salt Lake Stadium, which happened. But as they got closer, they were stopped by the police around the Beleghata crossing and the Ultadaga crossing, especially those wearing jerseys,” said Ashoke Dey, an avid Mohun Bagan supporter, who was at the protest.
“There was a huge (police) force present around the stadium, which raises a very pertinent question if there was so much force available, including the RAF (Rapid Action Force, then why was the derby cancelled?”
East Bengal fan Anindya Mazumder, another fan, recollected a similar experience.
“The police force around the stadium was huge. They had almost sealed every bit of space around gates 4 and 5 of the Salt Lake Stadium. There was a combined protest that arrived from Kadapara and the police told us to step aside,” he said.
Mohun Bagan’s captain Subhasish Bose and his wife Kasturi Chhetri joined the protests.
“The cancellation of the derby is very sad for us. We are the sons of the field and we want to play every match. But what’s more important than that is the security of women. And that’s what we are fighting for,” Subhasish was quoted telling ABP Ananda.
“Let this fight continue, and (I hope) the people who have done this crime must be punished. We all have one demand that justice is served.”
