A Call to Action

The Fight for Women’s Safety and Justice: A Call to Action

The issue of women’s safety has long been a point of concern in our society. Recently, the Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, suggested that women avoid night shifts—a move that can be seen as a strategy to shirk responsibility. How does this kind of advice solve any problem?

It’s clear from the state government’s stance that they are uneasy about their security measures. They have failed to ensure women’s safety, leading them to advise women to stay indoors. This is a direct attack on women’s freedom. However, this isn’t new—over the years, the actions of governments across the country have come into question following a series of tragic incidents.

From Park Street, Kamduni, and Hanskhali to Unnao, Hathras, and Bilkis Bano—these incidents show just how severely justice is lacking in our legal system. In the Unnao case, a teenager was raped by a powerful individual from the ruling party, and her family was targeted for elimination. In the Hathras case, an innocent Dalit girl was brutally assaulted, and then her body was secretly cremated at night to cover up the incident.

The Bilkis Bano case is even more horrifying. During the 2002 Gujarat riots, her family was killed, and she was gang-raped. When the criminals later came to power, they were released. This incident is a disgraceful example of hatred towards women and the desecration of the justice system.

Who will take responsibility for the increasing number of rape cases in Bengal? Every incident—Park Street, Kamduni, Hanskhali—where criminals were shielded instead of properly investigated, is a deep shame for this society. Honest police officers were transferred as punishment, halting any fair investigation into the crimes. We have not forgotten, nor will we ever forget.

Particularly in the Hanskhali rape case, the comments of a female Chief Minister, comparing rape to an illness like a cold or cough, reflect an inhumane attitude toward women in our society. Such remarks not only trivialize rape but also send a strong message that criminals will be protected by those in power.

The actions of those in power in these cases are questionable. Not only have they protected the criminals, but they’ve also created a social environment where women feel increasingly unsafe. These incidents highlight just how harmful the current policies are for women.

But society is not silent. On the night of August 14th, women across Bengal took to the streets, demanding justice for the rapists and murderers of Dr. Tilottama. That night, the streets belonged to women. This unprecedented protest showed that women are not just victims—they are fighters.

This awakening has spread to other layers of society. Today, the football-crazed fans of East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan have taken to the streets in protest against the unjust cancellation of their century-old derby. It seems that Tilottama’s struggle has touched them too. Their love for football has transformed into a protest against injustice. Tilottama has become the central figure of everyone’s movement, her brutal murder igniting the flame of courage in all.

This movement is teaching us that the fight against injustice is not just women’s responsibility—it’s the duty of the entire society. The struggle for Tilottama’s justice has reached everyone’s hearts, not just women’s. The nationwide protest by ordinary people shows that injustice will no longer be tolerated.

We cannot remain silent in the face of hatred and anger. Our breath is being choked, and our sleep has been stolen. The honor or life of a woman can never be measured in a few lakhs of rupees, nor can advising all women to avoid night shifts suffice. We demand justice—we demand exemplary punishment. Because we have not forgotten, nor will we forget, and we will not let others forget.

Sincerely,
Rise of Voices