Several actors and prominent figures from the Bengali film industry joined thousands of protesters in Kolkata on Sunday night, demanding justice for a trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last month.

A massive rally began at College Square, with participants including celebrated actors Aparna Sen, Swastika Mukherjee, Sudipta Chakraborty, Chaiti Ghosal, and Sohini Sarkar, among others. The crowd marched along Central Avenue, calling for swift justice and a thorough investigation into the horrific crime.

Protesters held sit-ins and chanted slogans such as "Justice" and "Halla Bol," vowing to continue their demonstration until early Monday morning. The participants insisted that someone from the ruling Trinamool Congress or the state administration should address their demands for a quick and transparent investigation and the arrest of all those involved in the case.

The protests spread across several key locations in Kolkata, including Esplanade and the Jawaharlal Nehru Road-SN Banerjee Road crossing, where the demonstrators pledged to stay until 4 am. Many prominent figures, including actors and artists, participated in the overnight sit-ins, forming the heart of the 'Maha Michhil' (mega rally).

Director Birsa Dasgupta emphasized that they had reached out to the authorities for a response. "We want someone to come and hold talks with us," he said. Actor Swastika Mukherjee raised concerns about the investigation, stating, "We know the CBI is involved, but there are reports suggesting attempts to suppress certain details. We need answers."

Mukherjee added that the protests would not lose momentum, even with the upcoming festive season, and warned that they would resume with greater intensity after Durga Puja. She acknowledged the impact on small business owners but said they were supportive of the movement.

Before joining the protest, veteran actor Aparna Sen expressed solidarity with the cause, stressing that people from all walks of life were united in their demand for justice. "If necessary, I will continue to protest. Common people have the right to demand answers and know the truth," she said.

The protests also saw participation from a junior doctors' forum, which has been actively seeking justice for the trainee doctor since her death. In southern Kolkata, alumni from Ramakrishna Mission schools and other educational institutions marched from Golpark to Rabindra Sadan Exide Crossing, holding banners that read "Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya" (Lead me from darkness to light) and calling for a fair and impartial investigation.

In another demonstration, around 300 alumni, current students, and guardians from St. John's Diocesan Girls' Higher Secondary School marched from Minto Park to the school, forming a human chain near Exide Crossing along AJC Bose Road. The rally featured a symbolic image of a spine with the slogan "Our spines are not up for sale," highlighting their demand for justice.

These overnight protests followed similar demonstrations on the night of August 14-15, sparked by the trainee doctor's rape and murder. The victim’s semi-naked body was found in RG Kar hospital’s seminar hall on August 9, igniting nationwide outrage. The earlier protests had turned chaotic, with unidentified miscreants vandalizing hospital property, leading to a political uproar.

Sanjoy Roy, a civil volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was arrested on August 10 in connection with the case, which is currently being investigated by the CBI.

Meanwhile, amid the protests on Sunday, women members of the Trinamool Congress held their own demonstrations across the city, calling for amendments to laws to ensure the death penalty for rapists. On the other side, the opposition BJP has been staging a sit-in at Esplanade since August 29, demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her government's handling of the case.