Law Student Allegedly Raped on College Campus in Kolkata, Accused Linked to Political Party

According to the police, the student had visited the campus for some official work in the late afternoon, and it was around 6:00 pm when the main accused, who was present for an event, first approached her. The man, identified as a former student of the college and a temporary employee at the institution, reportedly promised the victim a prominent position in the college union if she complied with his demands. He also spoke of a “loyalty test” she would have to undergo, though the exact nature of this test was not clarified.

The victim later alleged that the accused proposed marriage to her, to which she refused, citing her existing relationship. As she attempted to leave the campus, she was allegedly stopped by the accused and two accomplices. Manojit Mishra is the prime accused, while  Pramit Mukherjee and Zaib Ahmed are co accused, The trio then forcibly took her to a room, where she was sexually assaulted. A security guard, who was on duty at the time, reportedly heard the victim’s cries and came to her aid, but he too was beaten up by the accused. The vice-principal of the college later stated that the institution had only one sanctioned security guard at the time.

After the initial assault, the victim was moved to another room, where the main accused allegedly raped her while the other two men stood guard. Sources close to the police indicated that the crime was recorded by the perpetrators on video. In her complaint, the victim further alleged that the men struck her with a hockey stick and threatened to kill her boyfriend if she reported the incident to the authorities. The assault continued for approximately three hours, during which the victim was subjected to immense physical and emotional trauma.

The victim’s complaint also mentioned that the accused threatened to release the video of the assault if she contacted the police. However, despite the threats, the survivor managed to file a formal complaint with the Kasba police station.

In a swift response, the police apprehended the three accused on the evening of June 26. The main accused is reportedly a practising lawyer at Alipore Court, in addition to his temporary employment at the college. The police are continuing their investigation, and all three men will be produced in court.

The incident has taken a political turn, with opposition parties in Bengal using it as ammunition to criticize the ruling Trinamool Congress. The main accused’s alleged ties to the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the student wing of the party, have raised serious concerns. The accused’s social media profiles show his involvement with the TMCP’s south Kolkata unit since 2020, and several images on his profile feature him with senior Trinamool leaders.

Opposition leaders, including BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, have condemned the incident, pointing to the alleged criminalisation of politics in Bengal since the Trinamool Congress assumed power in 2011. “This is not just a horrendous crime, it is a glaring example of the criminalisation within the Trinamool Congress,” Adhikari said, referring to the alleged misuse of power by student leaders associated with the ruling party.

The Congress also voiced strong criticism, with the state Congress president, Shubhankar Sarkar, accusing the Trinamool government of not taking sufficient action against its leaders involved in criminal activities. “The state government did not learn any lessons from past incidents,” Sarkar said, referencing a previous scandal at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He further claimed that the state’s failure to act had emboldened criminals and anti-social elements in the state.

The CPI(M) joined the chorus of criticism, with Satarup Ghosh blaming the Trinamool Congress’s refusal to hold college union elections for creating a breeding ground for criminal activity on campuses. “College unions have been occupied by criminals like the accused in the Kasba case,” Ghosh said.

In response to the allegations, Trinamool MLA Ashok Deb, who is also the president of the college’s governing body, expressed his intention to take “strongest action” against those responsible. He added that the matter would be handled by the courts.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has called for a report on the case from the Kolkata Police Commissioner within three days. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities vowing to ensure justice for the victim.