Independence Day in Shame: How Can We Celebrate When Our Daughters Aren’t Safe?

Today, we were supposed to celebrate our great country’s Independence Day, but how can we even think of celebrating when our nation’s daughter, who was tirelessly serving citizens as a doctor during a grueling 36-hour shift, was brutally raped and murdered? How can we celebrate when a city that hosts the grandest Durga Puja couldn’t even protect its own Durgas?

We beg you, regardless of your faith or religion, to pray for the soul of our daughter—that she gets the justice she deserves and can finally rest in peace.

It’s infuriating that we call ourselves free when our daughters can’t even be safe in their own country. The cruelty of this crime is so horrifying that it leaves us ashamed and angry—angry that we live in a country where monsters like these still roam free, where justice is elusive, and where we are still far from true freedom. How can we claim independence when our women are still prisoners of fear and violence? This isn’t freedom. Not when our daughters are treated like this.

The Bengal Incident: A Horrific Crime and a Broken System

On August 12, 2024, in Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, a young trainee doctor was subjected to one of the most horrifying crimes in recent memory. She was on duty, serving the public during a 36-hour shift, when she was brutally raped and murdered by at least ten bastards—yes, bastards—who inflicted unimaginable cruelty upon her. The autopsy report revealed ten distinct injuries, including bleeding from her vagina, eyes, and mouth, along with bruises on her face, neck, and other parts of her body. Her pelvic girdle was shattered, and the cause of death was “throttling” and “smothering.” The signs of sexual assault were unmistakable, and the condition she was left in is beyond what any human should have to endure.

To add insult to this unbearable injury, the initial response from the college administration was to claim that this was a case of suicide. They even questioned why she was in the seminar hall so late at night, as if to suggest that she brought this upon herself. This kind of victim-blaming is nothing short of reprehensible. It’s as if they were saying that it was her fault for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, instead of focusing on the real issue: the predators who committed this atrocity.

The principal, who initially suggested that this was a suicide, later resigned, saying he couldn’t bear the situation because the victim was “like a daughter” to him. But where was his mind when he first made that statement? How could he have possibly thought it was appropriate to dismiss such a brutal crime as suicide, knowing full well what had really happened? This kind of callous disregard for the truth and for the victim’s dignity is unforgivable. The principal and anyone else involved in trying to cover up this crime should be thrown in jail, and the perpetrators should be executed publicly. Let there be no mercy for those who harm women in this country. Let this be a message that no one in India should ever dare to see a woman with bad intentions again.

Imagine what the victim’s parents and relatives must have gone through. Seeing their daughter, who had dedicated her life to helping others, lying in that condition—her body broken, bleeding from her eyes, her private parts, her limbs destroyed. Imagine what our innocent daughter must have endured in her final moments. Is this what she studied all those years for? Is this what her life was worth in the eyes of those who were supposed to protect her?

The lone arrest made so far, Sanjay Roy, was only captured because he left his Bluetooth device at the scene. He was found to be a porn addict, with his phone containing numerous explicit sites, and he was known to frequent red-light areas. But despite the overwhelming evidence suggesting that at least ten people were involved, only one person has been arrested. The biological substances found during the autopsy indicate the involvement of multiple assailants, yet our so-called justice system is dragging its feet.

Here, the government and almost every common person is celebrating the free air of Independence, but what about those people, particularly women, who feel trapped even in this free land? What is the government going to do about the monsters who make the people of this free land feel imprisoned? In a place where new lives come into this world, the person who helps those little lives live longer was raped and killed, only to be discovered by her father.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time R G Kar Medical College has been associated with such horrific incidents. Back in 2001, a similar case occurred, further tarnishing the institution’s reputation. This college, instead of being a place of learning and healing, has become a site of tragedy and cover-ups.

The Crime Scene Tampering: A New Low

As if the crime itself wasn’t horrific enough, things took an even darker turn last night. A mob stormed the hospital, destroying the crime scene and tampering with the evidence before the CBI could even begin its investigation. Now, with most of the physical evidence destroyed, all that remains is circumstantial—hardly enough in the eyes of our rigid, by-the-book legal system. The so-called blind justice system, which insists on following procedures without seeing the bigger picture, will now struggle to bring justice to this young doctor. It’s infuriating to think that because of this, the monsters responsible for this heinous act might walk free.

To make matters worse, what began as peaceful protests demanding justice for the doctor quickly spiraled into chaos as anti-social elements infiltrated the crowds. These individuals weren’t there to seek justice—they were there to create havoc. They attempted to burn police officers, shattered the windows of government vehicles, and caused widespread destruction. Worse yet, these “anti-protestors” broke into the hospital, including female and gynecology wards, forcing doctors to hide in secluded places out of fear. Many of these so-called “anti-protestors” had political backing, showing just how deep the corruption and disregard for law and order go.

We are taught from a young age that women are to be respected, that they are like our mothers and sisters. But look at where we are now—this is what our society has come to. It’s a disgrace, and it’s a failure of the highest order. This country needs to take strict action against these criminals. We need to impose restrictions on any content that might contaminate people’s minds—get rid of adult sites, dismantle the red-light prostitution rings, and, most importantly, teach everyone how to respect others. If we don’t, we’re going to keep seeing more of these horrific crimes.

Government Inaction and Political Hypocrisy

The response from those in power has been nothing short of disgraceful. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which rules Bengal and claims to stand for women’s rights, has been shockingly silent. For a party that is part of the INDIA bloc and often criticizes the central government, their lack of action and meaningful response in their own state is hypocritical, to say the least. How can they claim to stand for justice when they fail to protect their own people, especially when those people are women being brutally assaulted and murdered?

At the center, the ruling party is no better. They’ve made a habit of dismissing serious allegations, especially when they involve their own members, like Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Prajwal Revanna. Instead of addressing these issues head-on, they label critics as anti-nationals, stifling any form of dissent. It’s a pattern of behavior that shows a complete disregard for justice and accountability.

Media’s Misplaced Priorities

And then there’s the media. Instead of focusing on this horrific crime and the subsequent destruction of the crime scene, they were busy airing Independence Day specials with actors who mock the very institutions they claim to support. Where’s the outrage? Where’s the coverage? Why isn’t this the lead story on every news channel? The media, which should be the watchdog of our democracy, is failing us by choosing entertainment over critical issues that need the nation’s attention. It’s as if the real problems facing our country are being swept under the rug in favor of superficial distractions.

The Urgent Need for New Leadership

This tragic incident highlights the desperate need for a new kind of leadership in our country. We need leaders who are genuinely committed to justice, who prioritize the safety and dignity of every citizen, and who aren’t afraid to hold even the most powerful accountable. The current political landscape, where both the ruling party and the opposition are more focused on maintaining their power than doing what is right, is simply not sustainable.

We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history. The brutal rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata is a painful reminder that despite 78 years of independence, we are still far from achieving true freedom—freedom from fear, freedom from injustice, and freedom from the failures of those in power to protect us. Until we have leaders who are willing to stand up and fight for these freedoms, we will continue to see tragedies like this one, and our celebrations of independence will always be overshadowed by the grim reality of the injustices that persist in our society.

But let’s be clear—this isn’t the first time something like this has happened, and the sad truth is that nothing ever seems to change in India. The reason? Because people let things go if they don’t affect them directly, and the government just shoves things around to cover up the mess. Today it was this doctor; tomorrow it might be someone we know or someone who’s close to us. If we don’t demand change now, we’ll be condemning ourselves to a future where these horrors continue unchecked.

Call to Action: Stand Up for Justice

As we reflect on this Independence Day, it’s clear that our country still has a long way to go. The Bengal incident has shown us that the current political and media systems are failing us. The government’s inaction, the opposition’s selective morality, and the media’s misplaced priorities all contribute to a society where justice is hard to come by, especially for the most vulnerable among us.

But we can’t just sit back and let this continue. We need to demand change, and that starts with us. Join support marches, share information, and make others aware of the horrendous society we’re living in. Let’s not let this brave young doctor’s death be in vain. Let’s fight for the justice she deserves and for a future where such horrors are no longer possible. We need a new kind of leadership—one that puts the people first, or we risk remaining trapped in a cycle of violence, injustice, and political hypocrisy.