Bengal: Protests Erupt After Student’s ‘Gang Rape’ in Kolkata Law College, ex-TMCP Leader Arrested

While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was busy inaugurating the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Digha, a former Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) powerful leader and his two associates closed the gates of a law college in Kolkata, chased away the security guard and allegedly “gang-raped” a 24-year-old law student inside the guard room of the South Calcutta Law College.

The horrific incident took place on June 25 evening, and comes 10 months after the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which created widespread outrage. This time, too, the law student was raped inside college premises, allegedly by a former TMCP leader Monojit Mishra, who is a temporary employee of the college, and two of his accomplices Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay. Both are said to be students of the college. As per reports, four persons have been arrested so far, including Mishra and a security guard.

Meanwhile, a chill hangs in the air in the state. Is any place safe? How many more such hellish incidents will people have to see? Is there no safety for women in Bengal? Will the ruling party leader and activists do whatever and whenever they want to?

The Law College is just 250 meters away from Kashba police station of Kolkata. After rape came to light, Kolkata saw spontaneous outrage on Friday afternoon, with Left-wing Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Students Federation of India (SFI) and All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) members protesting in front of South Calcutta Law College.  

The picture of Mamata Banerjee, and TMC general secretary and Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee, hung at the law college gate, was torn down by the protesters.

The Left students, youth, and women protested in front of Kashba police station till Friday night. During the protest, the police reportedly indiscriminately beat up the protesters with batons, several of them, including women, were seen bleeding. The protesters wanted to know why the police were “guarding the rapists.” In this situation, doctors from Abhaya Mancha opened a clinic on the spot and started treating the injured.

Recall, that on August 9, 2024, a medical post-graduate student “Abhaya” was raped and murdered at R G Kar Hospital. Her family did not get justice. Doctors are still fighting for justice in the brutal incident. Those doctors, under the banner of Abhaya Mancha, are today standing by the protesters. Several leaders and activists, including DYFI state secretary Dhrubajyoto Saha were taken to Lalbazar lockup. Some were beaten and put in the lockup of Kashba police station.

People of Bengal condemned the police violence and have alleged that the administration was “desperately trying to cover up the infamy of the ruling party.”

What happened on June 25?

According to the 24-year-old survivor, a law student, on June 25, around 4 p.m, as she prepared to leave, she spoke with the current general secretary of the college student’s union. They were sitting in the front of the union room when Mishra approached them. He handed her a packet of biscuits and invited them inside the union room. One of the co-accused then asked about her loyalty toward the TMC college unit and Mishra. She said she was absolutely loyal, and had been appointed secretary of the girls’ section. She alleged that later Mishra proposed marriage to her. She rejected his proposal. She said she had a boyfriend and would not leave him. Around 6 p.m, the girl student said she and the others began to prepare to leave, when Mishra asked the union general secretary and her to stay back for further discussion. At 7.40 p.m, the union general secretary left.

According to the girl's statement to police, Mishra then signalled to his associates Ahmed and Mukhopadhyay, who went outside and locked the union door. Mishra then forced her into the washroom in union room, she alleged, adding that she suffered a panic attack from the trauma and had breathing difficulties. “I asked for help but they were not helping. Then I told them to bring an inhaler for me. They brought that, I took it and felt better”, she told the police, adding that she then tried to escape by running outside. But the trio caught her and the attack continued.

As per the girl, Mishra ordered the other two to take her to the security guard’s room and ask the guard wait outside. The main gate had been locked and the guard was helpless. The guard was thrown out, she alleged, adding, “I fought back, I cried and asked Monojit to let me go. I even touched his feet but he did not let me go.” She alleged that the former TMCP leader then raped her, “while Zaib and Pramit watched”.

The survivor also alleged that she suffered head injuries as she was hit with a hockey stick. She said Mishra showed her two videos that had been recorded of her assault and warned her that those would be circulated “if she did not agree to meet him whenever called.”

The former TMCP leader allegedly further threatened her that if she discussed the incident with anyone, then her boyfriend would be murdered and her parents would be arrested. She said around 10.50 p.m, she managed to leave the guard’s room, with the men warning her again against informing the authorities.

The girl’s student said she then called her father who picked her up. Initially too frightened to report this crime to the police, she later decided to file a complaint. “As a law student, I want justice,” she said.

All three accused (Mishra, Ahmed and Mukhopadhyay) have been charged with gang rape, wrongful confinement, and joint liability. 

Mishra is an ad hoc employee of the college. On the advice of the governing body, the 31-year-old was appointed a few months ago, the Vice Principal told the media on Friday. Significantly, Ashoke Deb, the TMC MLA from Bajbaj, is the chairman of the college’s governing body. In addition, Mishra is a practicing lawyer in Alipur court and is reportedly worked closely with several ruling TMC leaders, including the Diamond Harbour MP and TMC general secretary as well as state health minister Chandrima Bhattacharya.

Police said the three accused have been remanded in police custody till July 1.The official X handle of Kolkata Police has advised people not to spread any false information without verification.

CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim said the incident of ‘gang rape’ of a student in Calcutta Law College, allegedly by the former TMCP leader, has once again exposed the image of “TMC’s evil rule in the state”. “The miscreants are being taken out with the help of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee,” he alleged, urging all democratic people of the state to participate in the protests.

The writer works for ‘Ganashakti’ newspaper in West Bengal.