The four-member fact-finding committee constituted by the BJP to look into the case involving alleged rape of a student at a law college in Kolkata arrived in the city on Monday.
The team, which met the Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma before visiting the scene of crime, will submit its report to party’s national president and Union Minister JP Nadda.
Speaking to the media, the team members said they were not able to meet with the victim as she is under police security.
Former Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi, who is part of the committee said , “The chief minister of West Bengal is a woman but such crimes still keep taking place. In the RG Kar College case, a woman was raped and murdered. If one is not safe on college campuses then what would be the condition of public places? One can only imagine that.”
She further questioned how appointments of criminals were being made in colleges. “Where is police verification? How many such history sheeters are being appointed? He (prime accused) took money to get admissions done. This is the government’s failure at every level. They have violated every rule,” she said.
“The NCW team visited and they were not given access to the victim. The documents which are in public domain are hiding the identity of criminals. If women don’t feel safe then raises questions on the administration of the state.”
Meanwhile, BJP supporters and members of the Raat Dokhol and Adhikar Dokhol Mancha (Reclaim Night, Reclaim Rights Forum) comprising several student and women’s rights organisations had a standoff outside the law college on Monday
The confrontation took place when the BJP’s fact-finding team entered the college premises after a long discussion with police. The BJP supporters shouted slogans against the college authorities and the TMC.
The forum activists waving placards shouted slogans against gender violence, and drew parallels with the 2020 Hathras gangrape incident.
As tempers flared, a brief scuffle broke out between BJP supporters and forum activists.
Police, however, dispersed the two groups.
Later in the day, the forum representatives filed a formal complaint at Kasba police station, alleging disruption of a peaceful demonstration.