The recent gang rape case at a Kolkata law college has sparked outrage and drawn attention to a disturbing paradox: the prime accused, Monojit Mishra, had previously campaigned for justice in a similar case. This incident occurred less than a year after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024.
Mishra, a former student and current non-teaching staff member at the South Calcutta Law College, was arrested along with two students, Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee, for the alleged gang rape of a 24-year-old law student. The survivor stated that the incident occurred on June 25 when she went to college to fill out exam forms. She accused Mishra of raping her after she rejected his marriage proposal, while Ahmed and Mukherjee allegedly stood guard and recorded the assault on their phones. Police have seized these videos, which were reportedly used to blackmail the victim into silence.
Following the RG Kar Medical College incident, Mishra had shared a video on his Facebook page of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leading a protest march. He wrote, "Want the rapist to be hanged. Want justice and not drama. Want immediate justice. Want death sentence for the culprits". This post has now gone viral, drawing criticism and condemnation from netizens who are shocked by the hypocrisy of his actions.
The RG Kar case, which involved the rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate student, had triggered nationwide protests and heightened concerns about women's safety. The victim's body was discovered in a seminar hall of the hospital, bearing multiple lacerations and wounds. Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer for Kolkata Police, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the crime, a punishment that many considered too lenient. The Supreme Court took suo moto cognizance of the case and the Kolkata High Court ordered a CBI probe.
The recent gang rape case has ignited a political storm between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has shared photos allegedly showing Mishra with senior TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, and accused the TMC of enabling a culture of lawlessness. However, TMC leaders have denied any connection to Mishra and emphasized the swift action taken by the police in arresting the accused. TMC legislator Ashok Kumar Deb, president of the college's governing body, stated that he did not recommend Mishra's hiring.
The father of the RG Kar victim has also spoken out, expressing anger and blaming the Mamata Banerjee-led government for repeated crimes against women. He demanded strict punishment for the accused in the law college gang rape case.
Students have claimed that Mishra, also known as "Mango," had a history of disturbing behavior, including alleged psychopathic tendencies and sexual violence. Despite multiple complaints of harassment, molestation, and assault, students allege that no strict action was taken against him. It has also been reported that Mishra threatened students who participated in the 'Reclaim the Night' protest after the RG Kar case. One of the co-accused, Pramit Mukherjee, had ironically participated in protests demanding justice in the RG Kar case.
