The investigation into the alleged gang-rape of a law student at South Calcutta Law College has led to the arrest of a fourth suspect: the college's security guard, Pinaki Banerjee. This development follows the earlier arrests of three individuals, including Monojit Mishra, an ex-student with alleged ties to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and two current students, Pramit Mukhopadhyay and Zaib Ahmed.
The survivor, a first-year law student, reported the harrowing incident to the Kasba Police Station. She stated that she was attacked on the college campus after arriving to file an exam form. According to her complaint, she was forcibly taken to the security guard's room, where the alleged assault occurred. The student accused Mishra and the two other students of undressing and raping her, and further threatened to circulate a video recording of the assault if she reported the crime.
The arrest of the security guard, Banerjee, has added a new dimension to the case. According to police sources, preliminary investigations suggest that Banerjee was present during the alleged gang-rape. It is alleged that he vacated his guard room on the instructions of the accused, leaving the woman vulnerable. Despite the student's pleas for help, Banerjee allegedly failed to assist her. The police also stated that the guard did not report the incident to law college authorities or the police. In her police complaint, the survivor alleged that the guard saw the incident unfold but did not act.
The police have sealed the guard's room and the adjacent student union office as part of their ongoing investigation. A five-member special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case.
The medical report of the 24-year-old law student confirms that she had multiple injuries. The report, reviewed by NDTV, noted abrasion marks on her neck and chest. While the report indicated no external injuries to her genitals or mouth, doctors have not ruled out sexual assault, pending forensic analysis. Three swabs were collected for forensic examination, and a urine pregnancy test came back negative. The medical examination was conducted at the National Medical College in Kolkata.
The incident has sparked outrage and protests, with the BJP demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case, demanding a time-bound probe.
