A horrific incident at Kolkata's South Calcutta Law College has sparked outrage and drawn parallels to the brutal rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital months prior. A 24-year-old law student was allegedly gang-raped within the college premises, bringing back traumatic memories of the RG Kar incident and raising serious questions about safety and security in educational institutions.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, between 7:30 pm and 10:50 pm. The victim alleges that she was attacked inside the college's security guard room. Police have arrested three men in connection with the crime: Monojit Mishra, a 31-year-old former student and a local Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) leader, Zaib Ahmed, 19, a first-year student, and Pramit Mukherjee, 20, another student of the college. The survivor stated that the accused also recorded videos of the assault and threatened to release them if she spoke out about what happened.
The arrests were made swiftly following the filing of the complaint. All three accused were produced before the Alipore court and have been remanded to police custody until July 1, 2025. The police have seized the mobile phones of the accused and are investigating the matter further.
The incident has triggered strong reactions from various quarters. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance and sought a detailed report from the Kolkata Police Commissioner within three days. Political parties have also weighed in, with the BJP sharing photographs allegedly showing the main accused, Monojit Mishra, with senior Trinamool Congress leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Trinamool Congress has denied any current connection with Mishra and has called for the strictest punishment for the guilty if found guilty.
The parallels to the RG Kar Medical College incident are particularly disturbing. In August of the previous year, a post-graduate trainee was raped and murdered inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, sparking city-wide and nationwide protests. The brutality of that case, where the victim's body was found in a seminar room and the autopsy revealed signs of rape and torture, shook the conscience of the nation. This latest incident at the South Calcutta Law College has reopened those wounds and raised concerns about the safety of women in Kolkata's educational institutions.
The incident has also led to a blame game. A Trinamool Congress MP, Kalyan Banerjee, made controversial statements that appeared to blame the victim, suggesting women should be mindful of the company they keep. This drew sharp criticism and accusations of survivor-shaming.
The Kolkata Law College incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in ensuring women's safety and security. It underscores the urgent need for stricter security measures in educational institutions, swift and decisive action against perpetrators of sexual violence, and a change in societal attitudes that perpetuate victim-blaming. The state government has pledged its support to the victim and assured a thorough investigation into the matter.
