Their faces reflected the pain and agony but the steely resolve to get culprits punished was radiant all across as people from all walks of life, cutting across religion and creed, assembled in Park Street here and held a candlelight vigil to denounce the gang-rape of a nun in West Bengal's Nadia district.
Showing solidarity with the sister superior of the Convent of Jesus and Mary High School in Ranaghat, who was brutalised by bandits on Saturday, children and adults alike sung hymns and offered prayers but the hatred for the culprits and the anger over the administration's failure to nab them yet, was writ large.
Even as the air reverberated with Bengali and English songs of love, life and humanity, the anguish over the administration's inability to make headway yet was palpable.
Even Archbishop of Calcutta Thomas D'Souza, who had called the assembly to show solidarity with the rape survivor, didn't hide his displeasure.
"While the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) probe and the detention of eight people in this case is a welcome start, we are not happy yet because not much headway has been made in this regard.
"We urge the government and the administration to arrest the culprits at the earliest and bring them to justice," D'Souza said addressing the huge gathering at Allen Park in Park Street.
Similar sentiments reverberated with many of the youngsters flashing placards denouncing crime against women and demanding capital punishment.
"It's almost three days but police could do nothing. We want the rapists to be hanged, unless they are arrested and hanged we will not sit quite," said a youngster.
A large number of young and old women too lent out their voices in condemning the ghastly incident that has had caused revulsion in the state and beyond.
Calling for promoting love and humanity, the Archbishop said: "Every one of us is capable of bringing about the culture of love, humanity and respect for one and all. Let us create that culture."
A similar march was also held in Ranaghat where the people's patience seemed to be running thin.
"We had withdrawn our agitation only on the assurance that police will arrest all the culprits within 48 hours. Three days have passed but the police have not been able to even identify the culprits," said one of the locals.
Students of the convents and their guardians too participated in the rally expressing their anguish over the incident and the administration's failure to make much of headway.
State police chief G.M.P. Rajasekhar Reddy on Monday visited the school and held discussions with the investigators while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later in day rushed to the spot and talked to the local authorities.
