In an effort to continue probing the law college gang rape case, Kolkata Police has formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the guidance of ACP Pradeep Kumar Ghoshal. The horrific incident transpired within the confines of a South Kolkata law college campus, involving a young first-year student on June 25. Meanwhile, four individuals, namely main accused Monojit Mishra and others including Jaib Ahmed, a first-year student, Pramit Mukherjee, a second-year student, and a security guard Pinaki Banerjee, have been detained.
All suspects have been remanded to police custody until July 1. During an interview with a prominent news outlet, the victim's lawyer explained that before the ordeal, the student was harassed in the college union room. Following this, the perpetrators allegedly dragged her to the guard's room where the crime unfolded. The lawyer highlighted Monojit's political affiliation, underlining his influential standing, being the former president of the campus unit of the TMC student wing.
Read more: 'If my son is guilty, he should be...', says the father of a Kolkata gang rape accused
Ongoing investigations hint at more arrests. Regarding Pinaki Banerjee, police claim he was present during the incident but left the guard room, abandoning his duty to assist or report the situation. Despite the victim’s repeated cries for help, he failed to act, which led to his arrest once his negligence was verified during interrogation.
The victim stated that the main college gate was closed, forcing the guard to stay outside. Despite being present, he did not intervene. Main accused Monojit Mishra was apprehended on June 25, followed by Jaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee on June 26, and Pinaki Banerjee on June 28. The victim reported being attacked when she entered the campus to fill exam forms, forcibly taken to the guard room, where she was stripped and assaulted.
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According to the victim, Monojit retaliated after she rejected his marriage proposal, coercing her into the heinous act. Monojit recorded the assault on his phone, later using the footage to blackmail her. Medical examinations corroborated the allegations, revealing assaults and physical trauma, leading to political debate and unrest following this and a similar past incident at R.G. Kar Medical College.
Amit Malviya of the BJP IT cell condemned the incident, holding the TMC government accountable and equating it to the R.G. Kar incident, which had sparked widespread protests in August 2024 after the brutal rape and murder of a female trainee doctor, demanding enhanced security in educational institutions.
