Manojit Mishra, the prime accused in the recent Kolkata law college gang-rape case, appears to have employed a chillingly calculated strategy to target women, with a disturbing pattern of harassment and sexual aggression alleged by former classmates and juniors. The incident has sparked outrage and led to the arrest of four individuals, including Mishra, two other students, Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, and a security guard.
Mishra's alleged modus operandi involved luring the 24-year-old victim to the South Calcutta Law College on the false promise of a key position in the student union. Once there, she was allegedly taken to the security guard's room and gang-raped. The survivor stated that the assault occurred after she rejected a marriage proposal from Mishra. According to her complaint, she was attacked around 7:30 pm, and two men locked her in a room with Mishra, who then allegedly raped her while the others stood guard. She also stated that she was threatened with harm to her boyfriend and family if she disclosed the assault.
Disturbing details have emerged about Mishra's history of misconduct. A college insider alleged that he had a disturbing history of misconduct, including morphing photos of female students and circulating them, recording intimate moments with women and sharing the videos, and routinely body-shaming female students. Despite multiple complaints of molestation, assault, extortion, and harassment, no action was taken against him. One student told the Times of India that Mishra and his aides were a "terror, especially for girls" and that authorities were aware but protected him. Another junior student stated that "posting obscene jokes and photos in groups was normal. We stayed silent out of fear".
Mishra's association with the college spans many years. He initially enrolled in 2007 but dropped out before rejoining in 2017 to pursue a BA LLB degree, graduating in 2022. He was active in the student wing of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and rose to a leadership position. However, he was removed from his post in 2021 following reports of unruly behavior, including a 2017 incident of vandalism in the principal's office. Despite this, he returned to the college in 2023 as a contractual non-teaching staffer. Sources indicate that there had been multiple allegations of molestation and harassment against him, but no action was taken.
The medical report of the survivor revealed signs of brutality and forcible sexual intercourse, noting an abrasion mark around her neck and marks on her breasts. The report also indicated that sexual assault could not be ruled out. The police have formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident, and CCTV footage is being examined.
The incident has triggered a political storm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling TMC of shielding Mishra due to his past connections. Photos circulating on social media show Mishra with senior TMC leaders. The TMC has acknowledged Mishra's past affiliation but distanced itself from him in light of the allegations.
Mishra's father has stated that if his son is guilty, he should be held accountable. He also raised concerns about the absence of security guards at the time of the incident, which allegedly occurred in the security room.
