Kolkata Law College Suspends Classes After Gang-Rape Shocker
In the wake of a horrific gang-rape incident on campus, South Calcutta Law College has suspended all classes and sealed its premises indefinitely. The decision was taken as a precautionary and investigative measure after a 24-year-old female student was allegedly gang-raped inside the campus by two senior students and a former student.
The incident has sent shockwaves through academic circles and sparked national outrage. In response, the college authorities have shut down access to key areas, including the student union room, guardroom, a washroom, and one of the main entry points, all of which are now under forensic examination.
Campus Under Investigation
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case, and multiple arrests have already been made. Those apprehended include the main accused, Manojit “Mango” Mishra, two current students, and a college security guard. Investigators have recovered a 90-second video clip of the assault from the accused’s mobile phones and are analyzing over seven hours of CCTV footage to build a timeline of the crime.
The Vice-Principal of the college admitted that she was unaware of the incident until media reports surfaced, stating that police failed to inform the college administration during their initial visit. This revelation has triggered criticism of the authorities’ lack of communication and inadequate campus security mechanisms.
Rising Safety Concerns Across Campuses
The gruesome case has had ripple effects across Kolkata’s academic institutions. Colleges such as Scottish Church College and Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri College have initiated internal security reviews, ramped up surveillance, and increased police presence near vulnerable zones like union rooms and restrooms.
Calcutta University has also directed all affiliated colleges to reassess their safety protocols. This move comes amid a rising trend of student safety incidents in the state, with growing calls for more stringent regulation and accountability.
Political Fallout and Victim-Blaming Remarks
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan condemned the incident as a direct outcome of systemic administrative failure and accused the West Bengal government of ignoring campus safety. Meanwhile, senior TMC leader Madan Mitra drew sharp criticism for suggesting that the incident may have been avoided had the victim not entered certain parts of the campus, prompting widespread outrage and demands for an apology.
