A harrowing case of gang rape within the premises of Kasba Law College in South Kolkata has shaken Bengal’s conscience and yet again highlighted the perverse rot within West Bengal’s educational institutions, especially under the shadow of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) the student wing of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
On the night of June 25, between 7:30 PM and 8:50 PM, a young woman, a student of the law college, was allegedly gang-raped inside the very campus meant to nurture and empower legal minds. Three accused Zaib Ahmed (19), Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20) and Manojit Mishra (31) have been arrested. Shockingly, Mishra is a known TMCP leader, raising deeply disturbing questions about the political protection and power structures that embolden such acts of brutality.
According to police sources, the victim acted with courage and filed a complaint without delay. Responding swiftly, the Kasba Police arrested all three accused within 24 hours. While Zaib and Mishra were picked up from Talbagan, former student Pramit Mukhopadhyay was apprehended from his residence in the early hours of June 27.
The college administration, however, has not released a single statement — a silence that has drawn fierce criticism from all quarters. The police are now scanning CCTV footage, and the mobile phones of the accused have been seized. The survivor has undergone a medical examination at Chittaranjan National Medical College and Hospital, and a forensic team is expected to comb the campus for evidence.
Police have told the court that Manojit Mishra, the TMCP leader, is suspected to be the key conspirator, and all three have been remanded to police custody till Tuesday by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), Alipore Court.
The police have seized the mobile phones of all three accused. The official had visited the site and kept it under protection till they had done a forensic examination. They requested custody remand for further investigation.
Preliminary medical examination of the victim was conducted at CNMC Hospital, Kolkata, and statements of key witnesses were recorded. The BJP has launched an attack on the state government after this incident, saying such crimes continue to rise in Bengal.
While violence against women is sadly not new in Bengal, what sets this case apart is the brazen involvement of a student leader of the ruling party’s youth wing. Manojit Mishra, 31, allegedly used his political stature within TMCP to intimidate and influence the campus environment. Students and faculty have long whispered about the climate of fear and coercion fostered by TMCP members on campus — now those fears have turned into a nightmarish reality.
Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition, minced no words, “This is not just a heinous crime — it is a reflection of how Trinamool Congress’s student wing has destroyed the sanctity of educational spaces. TMC has weaponised education by giving political thugs control over students’ futures. We demand a swift, impartial investigation and the strictest punishment possible for the accused, regardless of their political affiliations.”
কলকাতার কসবা ল' কলেজ ক্যাম্পাসের মধ্যে এক তরুণীর উপর নৃশংস গণধর্ষণের ঘটনায় আমি স্তম্ভিত। এই জঘন্য অপরাধের সঙ্গে জড়িত তিনজন অভিযুক্তের মধ্যে মূল মাথা হিসেবে চিহ্নিত হয়েছে তৃণমূল ছাত্র পরিষদের প্রভাবশালী নেতা মনোজিৎ মিশ্র (৩১)। পুলিশ তাকে গতকাল সন্ধ্যায় তালবাগান ক্রসিংয়ের কাছে… pic.twitter.com/ishPpC7Iui
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) June 27, 2025
Amit Malviya, BJP IT Cell Head, also reacted sharply, “Horrific! A female law student was gang-raped inside a college by a TMCP leader and his associates. The horror of RG Kar Medical College hasn’t faded, and yet Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal continues to be a living nightmare for women. Under her rule, rape has become a routine tragedy. The BJP stands firmly with the victim and demands justice.”
Horrific! A female law student was gang-raped inside a law college in Kasba, a suburb of Kolkata, on 25th June, by none other than a former student and two college staff members. Shockingly, reports suggest that a TMC member is also involved.
The horror of RG Kar hasn’t faded,… pic.twitter.com/kJaKtH7bfy
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 27, 2025
Malviya also took aim at the TMC government for its habitual silence and failure to act against its own cadre when accused of grave crimes: “What we’re seeing is systematic political shielding of predators, not justice. Campuses have become fiefdoms for TMC’s student goons.”
This case is not an aberration, but part of a deeply disturbing pattern under Mamata Banerjee’s rule. The role of TMCP leaders in numerous incidents of sexual violence, extortion, intimidation, and political bullying is now well-documented but consistently ignored or downplayed by the state machinery.
Kasba Law College is only the latest victim. In recent years, law, engineering, and medical colleges across Bengal have faced accusations of political interference, physical assaults, and now sexual crimes — almost always involving politically connected student leaders with close ties to TMC.
The college authorities, acting under political pressure, often choose inaction or complicity over student safety. Campuses have turned into power centres for TMCP, with reports of parallel “syndicates” operating in admissions, hostel allotments, and even harassment investigations.
Further, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken a suo moto cognizance after a shocking incident.Taking immediate notice, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar expressed deep concern and wrote to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, urging a time-bound investigation under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In her letter, Rahatkar demanded full medical, psychological, and legal support for the survivor and asked authorities to ensure that compensation is provided under Section 396 of BNSS.
“The Commission has taken serious note of the incident. We have asked the police to ensure a swift and fair investigation and provide all necessary support to the victim. A detailed action-taken report must be submitted within three days,” the NCW stated.
The accused Manojit Mishra’s lawyer, Azam Khan, said, “The court hearing has been completed and all the accused have been sent to 5 days’ police custody till July 1.On the issue, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar launched an attack on the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, alleging that the rapists do not fear the law as they know the ruling party, TMC, would protect them.
While speaking to media, Majumdar said, ” Till the time Mamata Banerjee remains in power in the state such rape incidents will keep happening. The rapists have no fear, they know TMC will protect them.”
#WATCH | On Kolkata alleged gangrape case | Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar says, " Till the time Mamata Banerjee remains in power in the state such rape incidents will keep happening. The rapists have no fear, they know TMC will protect them." pic.twitter.com/mRVr3Ddsl1
— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2025
This latest horror comes less than a year after the nation was shaken by the brutal rape and murder of a female postgraduate trainee at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital — a state-run institution under the Health Department of West Bengal. The incident, which occurred on the night of August 8-9, 2024, saw the victim sexually assaulted and killed within hospital premises, allegedly by individuals linked to politically connected student unions.
