The alleged gang-rape of a 24-year-old law student in South Kolkata Law College has triggered widespread outrage and a political storm in West Bengal, exposing deep fissures between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
What Happened:
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On June 25, a first-year law student was allegedly gang-raped for several hours inside the college’s security guard room.
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The main accused, Monojit Mishra (31), is a former student and general secretary of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) unit at the college.
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According to the complaint, Mishra had proposed marriage to the victim, and the rape occurred after she rejected the proposal.
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Two other current students allegedly watched the act without intervening.
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A security guard, present during the crime, has also been arrested for deliberate inaction.
Police Action So Far:
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Four individuals have been arrested:
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Monojit Mishra
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Two current students
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The college security guard
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Charges include rape, criminal conspiracy, and failure to report a crime.
Political Fallout:
The case rapidly escalated into a major political flashpoint due to the accused’s association with the TMC student wing.
BJP's Reaction:
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West Bengal BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar led a massive protest rally in Kolkata on Saturday.
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Majumdar and several BJP workers were detained by police after clashing with authorities, bringing down barricades, and accusing the police of acting at the behest of the TMC government.
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He accused CM Mamata Banerjee of shielding the accused and crushing democratic voices.
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BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra termed the incident as part of a "state-sponsored cycle of gang-rapes" and called for Mamata Banerjee’s resignation.
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JP Nadda, BJP’s national president, strongly condemned the incident and formed a four-member fact-finding team comprising:
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Satpal Singh, former Mumbai Police Commissioner
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Meenakshi Lekhi, former Union Minister
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Biplab Kumar Deb, Lok Sabha MP and former Tripura CM
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Manan Kumar Mishra, Rajya Sabha MP and BCI Chairman
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This team will visit the site and submit a report to BJP leadership.
TMC's Silence and Background:
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The TMC leadership, as of now, has not issued a detailed statement on the incident.
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The issue has revived earlier allegations by opposition parties that TMC protects politically connected individuals accused in serious crimes.
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CM Mamata Banerjee had earlier accused Kartik Maharaj — now facing rape allegations — of working for BJP, a charge that now seems politically ironic given the reversal of accusations in this case.
Broader Implications:
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The incident has intensified questions around law and order, women's safety, and institutional responsibility in West Bengal.
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With Assembly elections approaching in 2026, the BJP is expected to amplify such issues to mount pressure on the TMC.
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The case also comes amid ongoing public anger over gender violence, including the recent complaint by a woman against Padma Shri awardee monk Kartik Maharaj.
What’s Next:
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The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests or institutional accountability actions are possible.
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The BJP committee is expected to submit findings soon, likely leading to further political and legal pressure on the TMC.
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Protests may escalate, especially if there is a perception of a slow or biased response by the administration.
This case has now become a defining moment in West Bengal’s political narrative, where women’s safety, institutional failure, and political patronage are all colliding in the public eye.
