At least three people were arrested for the alleged gangrape of a female law student inside a college in South Kolkata, triggering sharp reactions, just months after the east Indian city witnessed massive protests over the rape and murder of a young doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The incident occurred in South Calcutta Law College on Wednesday.
The alleged crime took place between 7:30 pm and 8:50 pm on the campus of the government-aided law institution.
According to reports, the three arrested people were identified as Manojit Mishra, 31, Zaib Ahmed, 19, and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, 20.
The complainant is a student of South Calcutta Law College, who accused a former student and two college staffers, police told News18.
They were produced before a Kolkata court on Friday and were sent to police custody till July 1.
A police officer told The Telegraph: “The main accused had called the victim to the campus on Wednesday evening. On her arrival, the main accused and his accomplices took her to a room where she was raped.”
The main accused, who was a regular visitor to the campus, had passed out of the college in 2022.
He currently practices in the Alipore court.
College’s Vice Principal says role of main accused under probe
College Vice Principal Noyna Chatterjee told News18 that Manojit is a former student whose involvement in the crime is currently under investigation.
Kolkata Mayor describes incident
“This is an extremely serious issue,” Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim told the media.
NCW takes suo moto cognizance of the incident
The National Commission for Women on Friday said it has taken suo moto cognizance of a shocking incident reported from Kolkata.
“Hon’ble Chairperson Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar has written to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, expressing deep concern and directing immediate, time-bound investigation under relevant provisions of BNS,” NCW wrote on X.
BJP targets TMC over law student’s gangrape
The Bharatiya Janata Party has targeted the ruling Trinamool Congress over the gangrape episode and alleged that one of the accused is a former student and a ruling TMC-affiliated union member.
BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote on X: “Another shameful chapter has been added to Bengal’s collapsing law and order under TMC rule.”
“This incident isn’t isolated — it reflects the TMC’s failure to protect women and their dangerous student politics that treats campuses like crime zones,” he said.
BJP’s Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari said the incident left him ‘shocked’.
“I am shocked by the brutal gang rape of a young woman on the campus of Kasba Law College in Kolkata. Among the three accused involved in this heinous crime, the main culprit has been identified as Manojit Mishra (31), an influential leader of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad. The police arrested him yesterday evening from in front of the Siddharth Shankar Roy Shishu Udyan near Talbagan Crossing. In addition, two other accused named Jaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukherjee (20) have been arrested,” Adhikari wrote on X.
“This incident is not just a crime, it is a blatant proof of the corruption of educational institutions by the leaders of the Trinamool Congress student body. Such atrocities in a sacred place like a college campus, where students come to acquire knowledge, are shameful for our society. The Trinamool student leaders are repeatedly abusing their power to create an atmosphere of fear and anarchy in educational institutions,” he said.
Adhikari demanded that the case be disposed of expeditiously after a proper and impartial investigation.
West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said women remain unsafe under the current rule in the east Indian state which will hold Assembly polls next year.
“West Bengal is bleeding, and women are unsafe under Mamata Banerjee’s rule. The culture of impunity must end,” he said.
He further said: “BJP stands with every victim. We demand swift justice and strictest punishment for the culprits.”
RG Kar horror
The alleged incident happened in less than a year after a junior doctor was brutally raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The RG Kar rape-murder had triggered nationwide protests bringing the state administration under scanner.
Though the victim’s family and other junior doctors alleged foul play by the administration, civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy, who was swiftly arrested by the Kolkata Police, was the only person to be convicted by the court.
Sanjoy was sentenced to life imprisonment.
