Scars remain as law college reopens after rape on campus
Times of India | 8 July 2025
Kolkata: On Monday, the law college finally reopened after the campus rape came to light, with only teachers and staff reporting for duty. While students — barring the 26 who couldn't fill up their exam forms — were conspicuously absent, the faculty and staff struggled with the scars of the June 25 incident that tarnished the institution's image.
Most of the teachers refused to speak. However, one of the professors admitted that they failed to ensure students' safety and security. There was a sizeable police deployment at the college gate when the first batch of teachers and staff members arrived on Monday morning. Cops guarding the main gate removed the guard rails to allow those with college ID cards to enter.
Vice principal Nayna Chatterjee was the first to enter the college at 7.25 am, even before the permanent guard, Barun Mahali, arrived. Though Chatterjee has been coming to the college regularly since last Tuesday when the governing body meeting was held on the ground floor, this was the first time since June 26 that she was able to access her office on the fourth floor. LLM classes will resume on Tuesday. Chatterjee said certain restrictions have been imposed following the governing body's decision.
All staff members and teachers were allowed on campus after their IDs were checked by police and security guard. Moushee Basistha, a professor, said, "I am speechless. None of us can avoid responsibility for this incident. We have failed to ensure campus safety. We have to accept this. Otherwise, such incident would not have happened. Curbs were already in place but no one adhered to them. There was prevailing arrogance. The vice principal made efforts to stop this. The college is reopening today. We hope that from now on, the college will run smoothly.
"Haripada Banik, the staff representative in governing body, said, "The college is reopening today and let the vice principal work. Tasks will be carried out according to the governing body's instructions. The form fill-up of rest of the first-year students will be the priority.
" The notice by the college stated that first-year students who failed to fill forms for first-semester examination would complete the task between 10 am and 12 pm. There were 26 students, who couldn't fill their forms. Kalachand Mitra, a guardian, said, "Why has the college failed to ensure safety of students? Why were these criminals given a free hand?" Pallab Lodh, a first-semester student, said, "It is unfortunate for a college that a student was subjected to rape on campus.
" Biswanath Shau, another first-year student, said he was worried about filling the form as he missed the date. The staff recorded attendance in a separate register as the original one has been seized by cops.