Bengali theatre personality Biplab Bandyopadhyay on Tuesday announced returning the state-instituted Best Theatre Director' award over the RG Kar Hospital issue. Bandyopadhyay, eminent playwright and director, said in a statement that he is returning the award conferred on him earlier this year by the Paschimbanga Natya Akademi and the Rs 30,000 monetary grant. The state government and the partisan police force want to hide facts following the rape and murder of a woman doctor in R G Kar Hospital on August 9, he alleged.

4:52 PM

Bengal CM Mamata demands resignation of PM, HM, CMs of BJP-ruled states over 'less effective anti-rape laws'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the chief ministers of all states that have "not been able to implement effective legislations to safeguard women".

Speaking in the assembly after tabling of the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024, Banerjee said the proposed legislation aims at quick investigation, fast justice delivery and enhanced punishment of the guilty.

4:50 PM

Kolkata rape-murder case: Lawyers raise slogans outside Alipore Judges Court in Kolkata

Lawyers raise slogans outside Alipore Judges Court in Kolkata and demand justice for the deceased doctor and death penalty for RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's former principal Sandip Ghosh.

4:17 PM

Sandip Ghosh, 3 others brought to court by CBI

The CBI has brought four people, including RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's ex-principal Sandip Ghosh, to Alipore Judges Court in connection with a financial irregularities case.

3:50 PM

Police remove barricades, allow junior doctors to proceed to Bentinck street

Twenty-four hours after junior doctors started their march to Kolkata Police headquarters Lalbazar demanding police commissioner Vineet Goyal's resignation, the cops on Tuesday removed barricades and allowed the medics to march to Bentinck street from B B Ganguly street. From there a few representatives of junior doctors would be accompanied by senior officers of the Kolkata Police to Lalbazar where they were likely to meet Goyal. Police sources said that at the Bentinck Street crossing, a huge team of policemen would form a human chain.

3:25 PM

Need to bring a comprehensive anti-rape law: Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said there is a need to bring a comprehensive anti-rape law in a time-bound manner.

Banerjee, the national general secretary of TMC, in a post on X claimed an incident of rape is taking place in the country every 15 minutes which raises the demand for such a law.

2:55 PM

Bengal Assembly passes Aparajita anti-rape bill, Mamata calls it 'historic'

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hailed the bill as "historic" and "model." Banerjee described the bill as a critical measure to address the gaps in central legislation and vowed to push for its swift implementation. Read here for more details.

2:28 PM

Will form special Aparajita Task Force from among police to ensure time-bound completion of probe: CM Mamata

Demand resignation of PM, HM and CMs of states that have not been able to implement effective legislations to safeguard women, CM Mamata said today.

2:25 PM

News update: West Bengal Assembly unanimously passes state anti-rape Bill

2:19 PM

Abnormally high crime rates against women in UP, Gujarat; women in Bengal getting justice in court: CM Mamata

What if I raise slogans against PM, HM for the same reasons you are raising slogans against me, CM Mamata told BJP MLAs in the Assembly.

2:05 PM

Bengal anti-rape Bill: Have tried to plug loopholes that exist in central legislation, says CM Mamata

Bengal was not consulted before passing BNS, we wanted discussions on it after new govt formation, says CM Mamata.

2:02 PM

Opposition should ask governor to sign the Bill, it is our responsibility to enact it after that: CM Mamata

Rape is a curse against humanity, social reforms required to stop such crimes, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said today.

1:57 PM

We want justice from CBI, death by hanging of the guilty: CM Mamata on agency's probe into doctor rape-murder

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hailed the state anti-rape Bill as 'model, historic'.

1:07 PM

Bengal govt tables anti-rape Bill in state Assembly

West Bengal Law Minister Moloy Ghatak on Tuesday introduced the anti-rape Bill at a special session of the state Assembly. Discussion on the Bill is expected to take place for around two hours in which BJP MLAs Sikha Chatterjee and Agnimitra Paul are scheduled to speak beside the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

12:23 PM

Junior doctors hold protest in Kolkata demanding resignation of Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal

Junior doctors held a protest demanding the immediate resignation of the Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal over the rape and murder of the trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here. Joint Commissioner of Police (CP), Traffic, Rupesh Kumar met the protesting doctors on Monday. "We have implemented Section 163 BNS and Section 144 CRPC so that no one can assemble in the area. If they want to send the delegation they can come and see the senior officer and give the letter if they want to," Kumar told ANI.

The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the state anti-rape Bill after Opposition lend full support to it.

The proposed amendments to the Bill moved by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, were, however, not accepted by the House.The draft legislation seeks capital punishment for persons convicted of rape if their actions result in the victim's death or leave her in a vegetative state. Additionally, it stipulates a life sentence without parole for those convicted of rape.

Discussion on the Bill is expected to take place for around two hours in which BJP MLAs Sikha Chatterjee and Agnimitra Paul are scheduled to speak beside the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

The West Bengal Assembly will see the introduction of an anti-rape bill on Tuesday by the Mamata Banerjee administration. This proposed law seeks the death penalty for rapists whose actions result in the victim's death or permanent vegetative state. It also mandates life imprisonment without parole for rape and gang rape convictions. The bill, named 'Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024,' aims to enhance protection for women and children by modifying and introducing new provisions concerning rape and sexual offenses.

A two-day special Assembly session, starting Monday, was called following the rape and murder of a female medical professional at the state-run Kar Medical College and Hospital last month. State Law Minister Moloy Ghatak is set to present the bill.

Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari has criticized the convening of this special session, claiming it was a unilateral decision by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee without consulting the opposition.

Terming the West Bengal government "chicken-hearted," West Bengal BJP General Secretary and MLA Agnimitra Paul on Monday accused the West Bengal Police of being in experts in syndicating and 'Tolabazi' and said that BJP will fight against this. "Unfortunately, the government has a very small heart. Mamata Banerjee's government is chicken-hearted. An obituary was presented in the Assembly for former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. We were shocked to see that the name of our sister from RG Kar was not there. When our LoP spoke against this, the Speaker asked us to say the name. We cannot say the name but they could have addressed her as the 'RG Kar daughter'. This shows the attitude of the government. The CM carries out Padyatra and shouts 'Phaansi, Phaansi' and makes Kapil Sibal stand in the SC," Agnimitra Paul told ANI.

Connect with us on WhatsApp

Topics :Mamata Banerjee West Bengal Kolkata Women's safety Women's security

First Published: Sep 03 2024 | 11:49 AM IST

Kolkata case updates: Anti-rape law aims at fast justice delivery, enhanced punishment, says Mamata

Kolkata murder-rape case updates: Catch all the news developments related to the investigation here

Key Events

Bengali theatre personality returns state award over RG Kar issue