SRINAGAR: The Kolkata Police has initiated legal action against unidentified individuals for allegedly raising “Kashmir Mange Azadi” (Kashmir wants freedom) slogans during a protest rally in the Jadavpur area of the city, The India Today reported.
The rally, held on Tuesday, was organised in response to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital on August 9, a crime that has ignited widespread outrage among healthcare professionals across the country.
A First Information Report (FIR) was filed after a viral video from the protest showed some attendees chanting slogans demanding freedom for Kashmir. The case has been registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), specifically Section 152, which pertains to actions threatening the sovereignty, unity, or integrity of India, and Section 285, concerning public safety.
The emergence of separatist slogans during the protest, which was primarily focused on seeking justice for the murdered doctor, has sparked significant controversy. Kashmir has long been a sensitive topic, particularly given its historical and political context, and the rally’s shift from healthcare safety to national integrity has raised concerns among authorities and political leaders alike.
The slogans, which evoke memories of the decades-long conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, have diverted attention from the original cause of the protest, amplifying tensions. The incident has drawn the attention of both state and national authorities, with the Kolkata Police scanning CCTV footage to identify the individuals responsible for raising the slogans. Sources indicate that the organisers of the rally could also be summoned for questioning regarding the incident.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), West Bengal’s ruling party, has condemned the incident, stating that such slogans go against the unity of India. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh addressed the media, emphasising that while citizens have the right to protest, raising slogans that suggest separatism is unacceptable.
“We are not supporting this. We are opposing and condemning this. This is a democratic state. Everyone here has the right to agitate. But it doesn’t mean you will raise slogans of ‘Kashmir Mange Azadi’. Kashmir is a part of India. It is ours. We condemn this separatist approach amid the RG Kar issue,” Ghosh said in his statement to the press.
The original rally, organised in the wake of the brutal assault and murder of the trainee doctor, aimed to highlight the need for improved safety protocols for medical professionals. Doctors and healthcare workers across India have been demanding stricter measures to protect those working in hospitals, especially female trainees and staff who often work long hours in vulnerable conditions.
The Kolkata Police, while handling the separatist slogan issue, is continuing its broader investigation into the protest. Officers are reviewing surveillance footage and social media content related to the rally, hoping to identify the individuals who participated in raising the controversial slogans.