Kathua rape case: Kolkata students march for victim

College students from the city organised a silent solidarity march for the Kathua rape victim on Sunday where nearly 3,000 people from all walks of life, including, students, teachers, businesspersons and even children joined the protest against the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu.

Initially, it was planned that the rally would begin in front of Allen Park on Park Street and end at Y Channel in Esplanade area but as they failed to procure police permission, organisers shifted the venue to Entally Market area in south Kolkata to Ladies Park. Since it was a silent march and had no political colour, police did not object when they walked up to Don Bosco School on Dargha Road.

"A senior official of Kolkata Police informed us that permission could not be given as there were several other rallies at Y Channel scheduled at the same time and that there could be a law and order situation. We too did not insist as we had kids participating in our rally. So we shifted the venue," said Tauseef Rahman, a college student and one of the organisers.

He said that it was a spontaneous reaction by the people in general. "We had spread the message over Whatsapp and Facebook but never anticipated that the response would be so overwhelming, especially the women's. There were people who could not be informed about the shifting of venue. They themselves enquired about it and came," Rahman said.

The participants, with placards in hand, walked silently but with a loud demand for justice for the little girl. 'Is beti bachao a slogan or warning?' read one of the placards, while a little boy carried a placard which said, 'Make India safe for our sisters'.

After they reached the end of the rally, there was a two-minute silence observed in memory of the child. "This protest was necessary. We just can't see these things happening and keep quiet as if nothing has happened. One of our own could be targetted one day," said a professor who had partaken in the rally.

Some of the students had come in spite of on-going examinations. "My masters' examinations are on but I thought I should contribute to this cause. This protest has not been organised or had the participation of a political party. My friends have organised it and I felt it was my duty to walk for the little girl who had to suffer," said Nidhi Mishra, a college goer.