Outrage and Lament: A Call to Action Against Sexual Violence

 I still remember the day, August 9th, 2024, when the city of Kolkata woke up to a gruesome reality - Dr. Moumita Debnath, a young doctor, had been brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital. I was among the thousands who took to the streets, demanding justice for Dr. Moumita Debnath and her family. The sheer brutality of the crime sent shockwaves across the nation and beyond, and I felt compelled to join the solidarity protests that erupted in other states and countries, including the USA and UK. We expressed our collective outrage and condemnation of this heinous act, and I was proud to stand alongside fellow citizens who refused to remain silent.

But just as we thought the darkness couldn't deepen, a massive mob attack occurred at RG Kar Hospital on August 15th at 12 AM, allegedly attempting to destroy evidence and cover up the crime. This is not only legally wrong but also morally reprehensible. Biblically, we are called to uphold justice and truth (Proverbs 17:15, NIV), not to conceal or distort them.

The fact that such a heinous crime could occur in a place of healing is a stark reminder that evil lurks among us. Dr. Debnath's parents must be feeling unbearable pain, and our hearts go out to them. But we cannot let their pain be in vain. We must demand the severest punishment for the perpetrators, for they have not only violated a constitutional right to life and dignity (Article 21) but also desecrated the image of God in their victim (Genesis 1:27, NIV).

As Christians, we are called to speak up for the vulnerable and oppressed (Proverbs 31:8-9, NIV). We cannot remain silent in the face of such injustice. The Bible reminds us that women are co-heirs with men and are created in the image of God, deserving of respect, protection, and dignity (Galatians 3:28, NIV).

Let us rise up in an aggressive non-violent revolt against this hideous act, demanding justice and change. Let us be the voice for the voiceless and the light in the darkness. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

In conclusion, let us remember that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12, NIV). May our outrage be fueled by a Christ-centric passion for justice, and may our lament be turned into a cry for redemption and restoration. May we stand together, unwavering and unrelenting, until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24, NIV). We will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice, and until our society is transformed into one that values and protects the dignity of every human life."

--Stephen Majumdar