The incident at brought back horrific memories of the rape and murder of an intern inside R.G. Kar Medical College.
KOLKATA: BJP National President J.P. Nadda has constituted a four-member inquiry committee to investigate the gang-rape of a female law student inside her college premises by Trinamool Congress activists on June 25. The committee includes former Union Ministers Satpal Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi, along with MPs Biplab Deb and Manan Mishra. Mishra is also the chairman of the Bar Council of India. The team will visit the crime scene and submit its report to Nadda.
In a statement, BJP said that Nadda had strongly condemned the “heinous incident” and raised serious concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal.
“The party has formed an inquiry committee. This committee will visit the site shortly and submit its report to the Hon’ble National President,” the official statement said.
On Wednesday, a female student was gang-raped inside the South Calcutta Law College, located in the heart of Kolkata’s Kasba area.
Following the incident, Kolkata Police arrested Monojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20). Mishra, the main accused, is a former office-bearer of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) unit at South Calcutta Law College and currently works as temporary staff at the college. Ahmed and Mukhopadhyay are currently students at the same college.
The Vice-Principal of the college told media persons that on the direction of the governing body of the college, which is headed by Trinamool MLA Ashok Deb, the main accused has been working at the college as temporary staff for the last six to seven months.
“His employment is renewed every 45 days,” said the Vice-Principal.
“These employments are made on the recommendations of the governing body.”
The police arrested the college’s security guard, Pinaki Banerjee (55), on Saturday. The police stated that Banerjee failed in his duty to protect the student and did not report the crime despite being present when the assault took place.
According to investigators, Banerjee left his guard room on the instructions of the accused, ignoring the victim’s repeated pleas for help. His negligence came to light during interrogation, resulting in his arrest.
This brings the total number of arrests in the case to four.
A medical examination confirmed the allegations, revealing evidence of forced penetration, bite marks, and nail scratches on the victim’s body.
The shocking crime has triggered a major political row in West Bengal, with the opposition BJP accusing the ruling TMC of failing to ensure students’ safety on campuses.
Union Minister and BJP’s West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar said the incident exposed the “collapsed law and order” in the state despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directly handling the Home Department.
“This is not simply a horrendous crime; this is burning evidence of the criminalisation of the Trinamool Congress,” said BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.
“The student leaders of Trinamool’s student wing have been misusing their power and have created an atmosphere of terror and anarchy on the campuses. This is Mamata’s contribution to Bengal,” he added.
BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh demanded Mamata Banerjee’s immediate resignation, alleging that atrocities against women were rising under her watch.
Speaking to the media, Shankar Ghosh said, “This shows the character of TMC and their attitude towards women. I demand Mamata Banerjee step down as Chief Minister immediately. Under her leadership, no one is safe.”
He added that the worsening safety situation for women reflected a “deteriorating culture” in Bengal, driven by the CM’s “irresponsible behaviour.” He further accused Mamata Banerjee of downplaying such crimes, emboldening criminals who feel protected under her regime.
Responding to the BJP’s allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the BJP’s fact-finding team should also meet the victim of another alleged assault by a Hindu monk, Kartik Maharaj, who is seen to be close to the BJP. He accused top BJP leaders of shielding such people and claimed that Kartik Maharaj was “bringing disgrace to religion” through such heinous acts.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case.
On Friday, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar wrote to the Kolkata Police Commissioner, expressing deep concern and demanding a time-bound investigation under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The incident at the law college brought back horrific memories of the rape and murder of an intern inside R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in north Kolkata in August last year.
