Kolkata Law College Gang -Rape Case: Fourth Arrest Made as Probe Widens

Kolkata: In a major development in the alleged gang-rape of a 24-year-old law student inside the South Calcutta Law College campus, police on Saturday arrested the college's security guard, taking the total number of arrests in the case to four. The arrest follows two days of intensive interrogation, during which the guard allegedly gave inconsistent statements regarding his whereabouts and conduct during the crime.

According to a senior officer, CCTV footage confirmed the guard’s presence on the premises during the assault that took place on the evening of June 25. “He failed to act or stop the crime, and his role in the incident is now being treated as active complicity. His reasons for leaving the guard room and not intervening remain suspicious,” the officer said.

The guard was detained on Friday for questioning and formally arrested on Saturday morning. Police have now sealed both the guard room and the union room of the college—locations directly linked to the crime—and a permanent picket has been posted at the college gate. The college premises in Kasba, south Kolkata, remain under strict police surveillance.

Earlier Arrests and Allegations

Three other individuals were arrested on Thursday in connection with the incident. They include Manojit Mishra (31), a former student and an alleged leader of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), and current students Saib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20). All three have been remanded to five days of police custody.

The 24-year-old survivor, a final-year student, had visited the college around noon to submit examination-related forms. According to her complaint, she was coerced into staying back in the union room, where she was sexually assaulted between 7.30 pm and 10.30 pm.

She alleged that Manojit Mishra, also a contractual staffer and practising lawyer, raped her after she refused his marriage proposal, while the two other students stood guard and filmed the incident on their mobile phones. She also claimed that the security guard failed to respond to her cries for help.

Medical reports have confirmed the survivor’s allegations of gang rape, according to police sources.

Political Fallout and Public Outcry

Social media profiles of the main accused show his past association with the TMCP, with images of him alongside senior Trinamool leaders. While the ruling party has denied any current ties with him, it has called for "severe punishment" if he is found guilty.

The West Bengal Women’s Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident. Chairperson Vijay Rahatkar has demanded a detailed report from Kolkata Police within three days and urged authorities to ensure medical and legal support for the survivor.

The crime has sparked strong reactions across political parties. On Friday, members of the Left Front, Congress, and BJP held protests at Rashbehari Connector, demanding accountability and better safety measures for women in educational institutions.

The incident has rekindled memories of last year’s horrific rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College, which triggered nationwide protests and eventually led to a CBI probe.

The police investigation into the South Calcutta Law College case is ongoing, with further arrests and institutional accountability not ruled out.