Three men have been arrested for allegedly raping a 24-year-old law student inside the guard room of a law college in South Kolkata. The incident reportedly happened on the evening of June 25, and arrests were made after the survivor filed a written complaint the following day.
According to police, the accused include Monojit Mishra, 31, who works at the college, and two students—Zaib Ahmed, 19, and Pramit Mukherjee, 20. The young woman had gone to the campus around 4 p.m. on Wednesday for some college-related work when Mishra allegedly asked her to stay back. Later that evening, the three men reportedly forced her into the guard room, where the assault took place between 7:30 p.m. and 10:50 p.m.
The survivor later informed her family, who then contacted the police. Based on her complaint, two of the accused, Mishra and Ahmed were arrested Thursday evening near a park in Talbagan. Mukherjee was picked up from his home later that night. All three were presented in court on Friday and have been sent to police custody until July 1 for further investigation.
Mishra’s lawyer has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated. He claimed his client is being targeted because of his past association with the student wing of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Mishra’s social media shows he once led the college’s TMC youth wing, though party leaders now say he held no significant role and that action must be taken against anyone found guilty.
The incident quickly turned political, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blaming the ruling government for failing to ensure women’s safety. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari criticized the administration, referencing past cases and demanding the Chief Minister step down.
In response, the TMC condemned the crime, acknowledged the arrests, and emphasized that strict legal action must follow. “This is not about politics, it’s about justice,” said party spokesperson Jay Prakash Majumdar, who urged that everyone unite to fight such crimes, rather than politicize them. The National Commission for Women has also stepped in, asking for a detailed report from the Kolkata Police Commissioner within three days.
