Kolkata Football Fans Charge for Justice: Know Why Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Supporters Show Power of Unity

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"Football Unites the World", is not just a global movement from FIFA, these four words have literally come true all around the world again and again. This time, these words came to life in Kolkata.

Asia's biggest football rivalry was dissipated when Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fans came together for one cause -- justice for the Kolkata rape case and murder victim.

It was not just Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fans but also Mohammedan SC fans who reached the stadium by the thousands to protest on the same evening when the Kolkata derby was scheduled.

A city that worships goddesses and calls them 'mothers' and 'daughters' instead of only seeing them as profound beings, showed how much they felt for another daughter who was raped and murdered so brutally that thinking about it can only make one shiver.

It showed that the brutality not only shook the women of the state but also everyone else as many reported that about 30,000 fans from the three biggest clubs of the city united at the stadium to protest. As a woman, it fills the heart to see such scenes.

However, it bittered just as quickly to see how the protestants were treated as time moved on. A large number of police took over the streets soon. They reportedly started a 'lathicharge' on the supporters who were protesting rather peacefully.

"A male police struck a female supporter with a baton," said one eyewitness Arnab Chowdhury (East Bengal supporter), who claimed how female protestants were treated by the police, "They did the same to many of us when we had no weapons with us. It happened three times recurrently."

Some supporters were detained in police vans from the protest scene but the rest of the supporters stood guard and did not let them pass. "The government had to accept defeat and let go of the detained supporters," said Arnab.

A Mohun Bagan supporter, Smarak Prasanna Roy, also present at the protest, said, "I was there in the 2011 derby where violence ensued between the Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fans. Yet, no one was arrested at that time and the police tried doing that today. For what reason?"

"I've never seen such scenes where rubber and glue mixed together," said Smarak, "But when such a tumultuous time comes, we have to do it. This was a disgraceful step from the government to stop a match just because supporters decided to protest."

How It Unravelled?

The year's most-anticipated match and Asia's biggest derby, the Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal match was set to be held in the last Durand Cup group stage match on August 18. With numerous protests being held all around the state, that match was cancelled.

The reason was stated as security issues for the match which could easily be interpreted as the government's inability to provide enough police support to the stadium if the derby was to happen. However, fans questioned if that was really the case.

Especially because both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal teams' fans' decided to raise their voices for justice during the match. They also made banners, special jerseys, and many also decided on wearing black.

It seemed when the concerned authorities decided to cancel the match, they only fuelled the rage inside the fans and the people of the city further. Ultras of both teams called for a gathering in front of the Salt Lake Stadium to protest in search of justice for the victim.

"The ultras even received threats to not gather in front of the stadium," said East Bengal supporter Arnab, "But the ultras made it clear that that would not stop them from protesting." Thus began the protest that showed how football fans can not only shake the ground inside the stadium shouting for their favourite teams but can also stand up to change the world against social injustice.