Kolkata Gang Rape: Classes at South Calcutta Law College Suspended as Protests Erupt Across City

In the wake of the gang rape of a student from South Calcutta Law College, the college has recently suspended classes indefinitely, with widespread protests gaining momentum across the city.

On June 25, a 24-year-old first-year law student was allegedly gangraped inside the guard room of the college premises.

According to the police, the main accused is Monojit Mishra, a 31-year-old alumnus working on contract with the college, along with two senior students, Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee, and the college’s security guard, Pinaki Banerjee.

So far, the police have arrested all four based on the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the survivor on June 26.

According to the FIR, the prime accused had allegedly asked the survivor to stay back and even proposed marriage. When she refused and tried to leave, he asked the others to lock the door, took her inside the guard room, and assaulted her.

Despite her repeated pleas to be let go, he allegedly beat her with a hockey stick and threatened to kill her boyfriend and have her parents arrested.

The Kolkata Police have formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the gang rape, with the team being led by an officer of Assistant Commissioner rank.

The incident has triggered widespread outrage across the city, with students and activists demanding systemic change. Students have expressed dissatisfaction with the college administration and have called for the immediate removal of all individuals implicated in the case.

In response, the college authorities have expelled the prime accused (Monojit Mishra), rusticated the two student co-accused, and terminated the staff contract of the security guard.

On Sunday, SCLC authorities issued a notification that read: “All BA LLB and LLM (General and Honours) classes at South Calcutta Law College will be suspended, and the college premises will remain closed for all students until further notice, as decided by the Governing Body.”

As per the police, the social media profile of the prime accused, Mishra, suggests links with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), as he was a former student wing leader at the college. The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the TMC of failing to ensure women’s safety.

With inputs from The Hindu and Hindustan Times