WEST Bengal witnessed waves of protest condemning the brutal incident of rape of a 71-year-old nun in a Convent school in Ranaghat, Nadia. The chief minister herself faced the wrath of local people, including school students in Ranaghat when she visited the spot. Thousands of people blocked her car for more than an hour demanding immediate arrest of the culprits. Protestors raised slogans, “Chief Minister Go Back” and “We Want Justice”. An enraged chief minister, instead of pacifying the hurt people, threatened them and blamed the CPI(M) and the BJP for organising such protests. The incident intensified the outrage over the crime and callous attitude of the state administration.

As the news of this most atrocious crime spread on  March 15 , spontaneous rallies and marches were held throughout the state. Incidentally, the robbery and rape of the nun came in the backdrop of 17 rapes in 28 days in the state. The figure jumped to 21 in 31 days, as more incidents followed. In fact, not a single day passes in West Bengal without the news of atrocity committed against women in some place or the other.

CPI(M) state secretary Suryakanta Misra rushed to Ranaghat and met the victim in the hospital. Hundreds of local people thronged to meet Misra who spoke with them. A protest rally was organised by the CPI(M) in Ranaghat in which Misra, CPI(M) Central Committee member Mridul de and other leaders of the Party participated.

The failure of the police in not nabbing even a single culprit even after four days resulted in growing anger among people. The CPI(M), Left Front and the  AIDWA organised protest marches in every corner of the state. In Kolkata, a candle light rally organised by the Left Front marched  through the streets. Biman Basu, Suryakanta Misra, Shyamal Chakraborty, CPI state secretary Prabodh Panda and other Left leaders participated in the rally. AIDWA and other Left women’s organisations held a huge silent rally. The DYFI and the SFI blocked roads throughout the state. The Left Front called for massive protests on the streets all over the state.

The civil society and people of Christian community rose in protest. The severity of the rape has enraged all sections of the society. In many towns, Christian religious personalities walked in protest marches by the side of the Left and other social activists.

International and national condemnation of the rape and of the TMC government has cornered the arrogant chief minister. She was forced to recommend a CBI probe. However, there was a palpable political tactic behind this announcement. Fearing a wider backlash, Mamata Banerjee tried to avoid the responsibility of apprehending the culprits on the eve of municipal elections in the state.

Leader of the opposition, Suryakanta Misra questioned the sincerity of the chief minister and asked why four important days were misused. He also said the chief minister failed to act in any such cases of atrocities of women.