According to police reports and the victim's statement, a 24-year-old law student in Kolkata has accused three men of gang rape and assault within the premises of South Calcutta Law College. The survivor's account details a harrowing ordeal, including physical violence, threats, and the filming of the assault.
In her complaint filed with the Kasba Police Station, the woman stated that the incident occurred on the evening of June 25th, between 7:30 PM and 10:50 PM. She had arrived at the college earlier in the day to complete examination-related forms. The accused have been identified as Monojit Mishra, a 31-year-old former student and reportedly the general secretary of the South Kolkata district unit of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), along with Zaib Ahmed, 19, and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, 20, both current students of the college.
The victim alleges that Mishra had been pressuring her to marry him, which she refused, explaining that she already had a boyfriend. Enraged by her rejection, Mishra allegedly threatened to harm her boyfriend and implicate her parents in false cases. She further stated that she was confined within the college premises against her will.
According to her statement, the accused initially confined her to the college union room. Subsequently, Mishra instructed that the main college gate be locked. She was then allegedly taken to the security guard's room where the assault took place. The woman reported that she was forcefully undressed and raped. She recounted desperately begging and even touching Mishra's feet, but her pleas were ignored.
The complaint details further violence. The victim stated that when she tried to leave, the accused attempted to hit her with a hockey stick. News reports indicate that she told police she was struck on the head with the stick during the assault. She also alleged that the men filmed the assault and threatened to release the videos if she did not cooperate. The survivor recounted experiencing a panic attack and shortness of breath during the ordeal and that her requests for medical assistance were ignored.
The woman also alleged that she was pressured to prove her loyalty to the Trinamool Congress' student wing unit. She stated that after the assault, she was warned not to report the incident, with threats made against her family and boyfriend. Despite these threats, she resolved to seek justice and filed the police complaint.
Police have arrested all three accused and seized their mobile phones. They were produced before a court and have been remanded to police custody. The college has been sealed off for forensic examination, and the victim has undergone a medical examination. Witnesses have been examined, and their statements recorded.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken cognizance of the incident and has directed the Kolkata Police Commissioner to submit a detailed action-taken report within three days. The NCW chairperson emphasized the need to provide full medical, psychological, and legal assistance to the victim, along with compensation.
This incident has sparked outrage and political clashes. The BJP has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of enabling a culture of impunity, while the TMC has stated that justice will be served and that the law will take its course. The incident has also drawn comparisons to a similar crime that occurred at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024, raising renewed concerns about the safety and security of women in public spaces in Kolkata.
