A video of the crime found on the phone of the accused is likely to serve as clinching evidence in the alleged rape of a law student inside a Kolkata college where she studies, investigators have told The Indian Express.
The 24-year-old student was allegedly raped on Wednesday, after which police arrested three men — Monojit Mishra (31), a contractual staffer who was a TMC students’ wing functionary, and two students, Zaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukherjee (20). It is alleged that the two students allegedly forced the woman into a guard room and stopped her from escaping while Mishra raped her.
A five-member SIT headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police has been formed to probe the case.
On Saturday, the Kolkata police made a fourth arrest — a security guard at the college. In her complaint, the woman has alleged that the guard was asked to vacate his room before she was raped there. “We found discrepancies in his statement, and the woman has made a direct complaint against him,” a senior officer said. Police identified him as Pinaki Banerjee, a resident of Khardaha.
In her complaint, the woman has alleged that during the sexual assault, the accused made a video of the act, which they then used to try and silence her. “We are verifying whether the video was circulated or shared with others,” said a senior officer.
The woman has recorded her statement before a court and undergone a medico-legal examination. She has also been counselled. On Saturday evening, she was escorted by a police contingent to the college campus to reconstruct the crime scene.
Police said they are also reviewing CCTV footage from June 25 to establish the chronology of events.
Police sources said other students who were present near the union room of the college will also be questioned.
The three accused will, meanwhile, undergo medico-legal tests to see whether they have injury marks sustained during the alleged scuffle with the woman.
The main accused, Mishra, is a former student of the law college and currently works at the institution as a contractual staffer. While he was a Trinamool Chhatra Parishad leader during his time as a student, the TMC claimed he is no longer associated with the party, even as the Opposition sharpened its attack on the ruling government.
The state education department has sought a report from the college authorities regarding the crime and the alleged failure of security measures. “I am shocked. We condemn the incident. A report has been sought from college authorities,” said Bratya Basu, the state education minister.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, the Kolkata police wrote, “Certain unscrupulous elements are attempting deliberately to give a communal colour to the unfortunate incident in Kasba. Such actions are not only misleading but also aimed at disturbing public order. Stringent legal action shall be taken against those spreading false narratives with malicious intent. All appropriate legal and investigative measures have been taken in the said case, and the investigation is progressing strictly in accordance with the law.”