Kolkata Law Student Gang-Rape Case Sparks Outrage, Four Arrested

KOLKATA – A horrific incident of alleged gang-rape at South Calcutta Law College in Kolkata’s Kasba area has sent shockwaves across the city, reigniting concerns over women’s safety on educational campuses. A 24-year-old first-year law student was allegedly gang-raped on the evening of June 25, 2025, inside the college premises, prompting swift action from the Kolkata Police and widespread public outrage.

According to the survivor’s complaint, the assault took place between 7:30 PM and 10:50 PM in the college’s security guard room. The primary accused, Manojit Mishra, a 31-year-old former student and contractual staff member at the college, allegedly raped the woman after she rejected his marriage proposal. Two current students, Zaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), are accused of abetting the crime, with reports indicating they restrained the survivor and recorded the assault on their mobile phones, later using the footage to blackmail her.

The survivor also alleged she was beaten with a hockey stick and threatened with death to her family and boyfriend if she reported the crime. A fourth individual, a 55-year-old security guard named Pinaki Banerjee, was arrested on June 28 for suspected complicity or negligence, as CCTV footage showed him loitering outside during the incident without intervening.

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A medical examination conducted on June 26 at the National Medical College in Kolkata corroborated the survivor’s allegations, confirming evidence of forceful penetration, abrasion marks on her neck and chest, bite marks, and nail scratches. Police have seized the mobile phones of the accused for forensic analysis, and a video of the crime recovered from one of the phones is expected to serve as key evidence. The crime scene, including the guard room and adjacent student union office, has been sealed for investigation.

The Kolkata Police has formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, to probe the case. The three main accused were arrested on June 26 and remanded to police custody until July 1, 2025, following their appearance before the ACJM Alipore court. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo moto cognizance, demanding a detailed report from the Kolkata Police Commissioner within three days and urging the state to ensure the survivor’s safety.

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The incident, occurring less than a year after the rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at RG Kar Medical College in August 2024, has drawn parallels to that case, fueling public anger and protests by student organizations like the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) outside the college. The case has also sparked a political firestorm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeting the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) over Mishra’s alleged affiliation with its student wing, the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP). BJP leader Sambit Patra called the incident “state-sponsored brutality” and demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP has formed a four-member committee to investigate the case and submit a report to party president JP Nadda.

TMC leaders, including Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, condemned the incident but urged against politicization, emphasizing that the police acted swiftly. The party stated, “We unequivocally condemn the tragic incident at South Calcutta Law College. Kolkata Police have apprehended all accused, and the full weight of the law will be imposed.” However, the father of the RG Kar victim criticized the state government, alleging a pattern of failure in ensuring women’s safety.

Calcutta University, affiliated with the college, has sought a report from the institution’s authorities and plans to form a fact-finding committee. The incident has renewed focus on campus safety, with calls for stricter security measures and accountability. The survivor, in her complaint, expressed her determination for justice, stating, “Being a law student, I am the victim now, and I want justice to be served as soon as possible.”

As investigations continue, the case has galvanized public and political discourse, with protests erupting across Kolkata and demands for systemic reforms to protect students on educational campuses.