New medical evidence has emerged against Monojit Mishra, the prime accused in the Kolkata gangrape case of a 24-year-old law student. Doctors have discovered fresh nail scratch marks on Mishra's body, indicating a struggle and resistance from the victim during the alleged assault.
The alleged gang-rape occurred on June 25 within the security guard's room at South Calcutta Law College. The victim reported the incident, leading to the arrest of Mishra and three others: Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee, who are students at the college, and Pinaki Bandyopadhyay, the college security guard.
According to a police source, the scratch marks on Mishra's body are "fresh" and consistent with injuries sustained when someone faces resistance. This new evidence corroborates the survivor's statement and strengthens the prosecution's case. Earlier medical examinations of the survivor revealed evidence of "forceful penetration, bite marks, and nail scratches" on her body.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating the case. The SIT has also found evidence of a phone conversation between Mishra and the college's Vice Principal, Dr. Nayna Chatterji, the morning after the crime. The content of this conversation is under investigation. Police have questioned Dr. Chatterji twice to understand the nature of the conversation.
In addition to the medical evidence, CCTV footage from the college campus shows the survivor being dragged by the accused. Further CCTV footage from a local medical shop shows Zaib Ahmed purchasing an inhaler for the survivor while she was allegedly being assaulted. The pharmacy owner confirmed that Zaib initially tried to split the payment between cash and UPI, but eventually paid the entire amount online after the shopkeeper refused partial payment. The victim stated that she begged for medical help after experiencing breathlessness during the assault. She reported that after using the inhaler, which provided temporary relief, the assault continued.
The police have also made a list of 16 people, mostly students, who were present at the college after class hours on the day of the incident. Investigating officers have questioned six of them to gather more information about the events of that evening.
A city court has extended the police custody of the three main accused—Mishra, Ahmed, and Mukherjee—until July 8. They were initially arrested on June 26 and placed in police custody for four days.
The incident has sparked outrage and protests in Kolkata. Students from South Calcutta Law College and other institutions have staged demonstrations demanding improved safety measures on campus. The case has also become a political issue, with accusations and counter-accusations between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP.
The investigation is ongoing, with the police continuing to collect and analyze evidence, including digital records, call details, and forensic reports, to build a comprehensive case against the accused.
