Students demanded campus safety reforms after a woman was gang raped by college members. Alipore Court lawyers called for harsh punishment and urged no legal aid for the accused.
Kolkata: Today, on July 1, Students of South Calcutta Law College staged a protest on Tuesday, demanding safety and justice after a horrific gang rape incident that took place last month.
The protest was held in front of the college premises, where students held placards and shouted slogans seeking justice for the 24-year-old woman who was reportedly gang raped by two students and a contractual employee of the institution.
Anger and shock have gripped the college campus as students called for serious action from the authorities. The protestors not only demanded strict punishment for the accused but also asked for immediate changes in the administration and governance structure of the college.
According to the students, the governing body must be reformed to prevent such tragic events in the future.
The college management responded by expelling the two student-accused involved in the incident.
The main accused, Monojit Mishra, who was working as a contractual employee at the college, had his service terminated. Protesters were vocal about their concern for campus safety and the damage done to the institution’s image by those involved in the crime.
One protesting student said,
“Individuals involved in the incident cannot have a place in our college.”
Another protester added,
“These people were damaging the reputation of the law college.”
Emotions ran high as students expressed how their trust in the college’s safety arrangements was broken. One student asked,
“Our parents sent us to college, trusting that the authorities would ensure our safety. What did we get in return?”
They also raised demands for the formation of a neutral and transparent governing body, and insisted that student representatives be included in decision-making processes to ensure accountability and fairness.
The main accused, Monojit Mishra, along with co-accused Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee, has been arrested and sent to police custody till July 1. The police investigation is ongoing.
Outside the college, the impact of the incident is being felt in the wider legal community. Around 100 lawyers from Alipore Court also held a protest within the court premises, expressing outrage over the crime and demanding strict punishment for the accused.
These lawyers belong to the Alipore Court chapter of the All India Lawyers Union and were seen walking across the court premises, chanting slogans against the accused and the brutality of the crime.
Meanwhile, members of the BJP’s legal cell, who are part of the Alipore Court Lawyers’ Union, submitted an official letter to the Alipore Court Bar Association.
The letter called upon the legal fraternity to refrain from representing the rape accused during the hearing. According to them, taking up the defence in such a heinous case would send the wrong message.
On behalf of the BJP lawyers’ forum, Subroto Sengupta made a strong statement:
“The heinous crime has tarnished the state’s image. We need to give a strong message for women’s safety. It is a matter of shame that the prime accused is a practising lawyer as per reports.”
He also raised a serious question, asking,
“How a lawyer’s license could be granted to Mishra despite him being accused in several criminal cases in the past.”
Background Of The Case
The alleged gang rape of the 24-year-old student at South Calcutta Law College adds to a troubling pattern of crimes against women in West Bengal, particularly within educational institutions. This is not an isolated incident.
Nearly ten months ago, in August 2024, the city witnessed another horrific crime when a postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
That incident had already raised grave concerns about the safety of women within campuses and public institutions in Kolkata.
Despite public outcry and demands for systemic reforms, incidents like these continue to occur, indicating glaring lapses in security, enforcement, and accountability.
Student groups, civil society, and opposition leaders have frequently criticized the West Bengal administration for failing to create a safe environment for young women.
This latest incident, involving current and former students allegedly linked with political student bodies, also highlights the dangers of unchecked influence and lack of oversight within campus premises.
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