Kolkata– All three individuals arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a female law student on her college campus in Kolkata have been identified as members of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the student wing of the ruling Trinamool Congress, police sources and fellow students confirmed on Friday.
Among the accused is Monojit Mishra, 30, a former student of the law college who was recently appointed as a temporary staff member by the college’s governing body. Students claim Mishra held significant influence on campus and had close ties with senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress.
The other two accused, Pramit Mukhopadhyay, 20, and Zaib Ahmed, 19, are current students of the college and were reportedly active participants in TMCP activities, according to their peers.
All three were presented before a Kolkata court on Friday and remanded to police custody until July 1. Investigators have seized their mobile phones, which are currently being examined for further evidence, said Public Prosecutor Sourin Ghosal.
The incident, which allegedly occurred around 7 p.m. on June 25, has raised serious questions about campus security and administrative oversight. The college, according to Vice-Principal Noyna Chatterjee, is a day institution with classes ending by 5 p.m. This has led to concerns over how the accused were able to access the common room and summon the victim two hours after the college was supposed to be closed.
According to the victim’s complaint, she was called to the common room by the accused under the pretext of proving her loyalty to the TMCP. Sensing something was wrong, she attempted to leave, but was forcibly dragged into a guard room on the premises and raped. She also alleged that campus security personnel stood by without intervening and may have even facilitated the assault.
The victim further claimed she was threatened by the accused and warned not to report the incident.
Reacting to the case, TMCP State President Trinakur Bhattacharya said that if the allegations are proven, the accused should face the harshest possible punishment, regardless of their affiliation with the party’s student wing.
The investigation is ongoing. (Source: IANS)
