Mohun Bagan-East Bengal fans join hands to protest Kolkata rape-murder horror

The Sunday afternoon was supposed to be a blockbuster day for Kolkata's football fans as two of the city's biggest clubs were set to face off in the season's first derby in the Durand Cup.

What eventually transpired was a mass protest, calling for justice.

The city's fierce rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fans came together braving incessant rain to demonstrate a mass protest seeking justice for a 31-year-old trainee doctor of RG Kar Hospital who was allegedly raped and killed on August 9.

'Ghati-Bangaler eke shor, Justice for RG Kar (We want justice for RG Kar)'. A slogan of over one lakh protesters resonated throughout the EM Bypass outside the Salt Lake Stadium.

In a rare moment of unanimity, fans of both clubs were seen holding each other's hands, flags and raising slogans, seeking justice for the rape and murder victim. They were also joined by Mohammedan Sporting.

But the peaceful protest, with AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and Mohun Bagan captain Subhasish Bose being the notable participants, turned chaotic when the baton-wielding police lathi-charged fans, including women, and detained many of them.

When the police tried to disperse the protesting crowd from the VIP Gate, a stampede-like situation prevailed as fans started running out of fear towards Salt Lake Stadium Metro Station. As a result, the demonstration escalated towards EM Bypass.

The police also detained 16 Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fans but released them later after fans of both clubs lay down before the prison van and continued to protest.

Earlier, the government imposed BNSS Section 168 (formerly Section 144) on the stadium premises from 4 PM today to midnight to prevent protesters from assembling.

On Saturday afternoon, the Durand Cup organising committee cancelled the derby after the West Bengal government and the police cited security concerns and expressed their inability to provide security to the match.

"We have been deprived of sports. We don't have anything else here. This is an unprecedented event. A football match has been cancelled out of fear. Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan fans were prepared to raise slogans in the stadium against the injustice. We also prepared tifos and placards. The Durand Cup committee also wanted to organise the match. They distributed tickets till 2 PM on Saturday. But the West Bengal government and police expressed their inability to provide security despite the Army offering to support them," a Mohun Bagan fan told The Bridge.

"This is unacceptable. The Government did not have enough police to provide security to the 64,000 fans but had 500-600 police to beat peaceful protesters outside the stadium. We have not come here with a bomb or lathi, we have come to protest the cancellation of the match. Normally, during a derby, we don't see that many police personnel," said a protester.

"We have been beaten up by male police personnel just for protesting the rape-murder of the trainee doctor and cancellation of the match. The police also tried to tear our banner. Are we not allowed to hold peaceful protests? Why police would beat us?" asked another fan.

Despite the use of force by the police, protest intensified as fans continued to raise the slogan - 'We want justice' - and reoccupied the VIP Gate.