Campus Rape — The alleged rape of a first-year law student inside a college union room has not only triggered widespread outrage and arrests, but also left an academic vacuum. As the college remains shut amid protests and investigations, over 200 students now face looming first-semester exams with no lectures, no clarifications, and no reassurance from authorities.
Campus Rape: Incident Summary
On June 25, a 24-year-old law student reported being raped inside the students’ union room of a South Kolkata law college. The accused include Monojit “Mango” Mishra, an ex-student on temporary staff, and two current students. Investigations suggest the act was premeditated, with one accused allegedly recording the crime on video with the intent to intimidate and silence the survivor.
A security guard was also arrested for allegedly aiding the accused. Police have registered multiple charges, including rape, criminal intimidation, and wrongful confinement.
Academic Fallout
The college was closed indefinitely just after the incident broke out. As a result, lectures have not resumed for over a week, even though first-semester university examinations are scheduled to begin in less than two weeks.
Students have voiced frustration over the lack of communication from the college administration and university. For many first-year students, this was their first semester in law school—an already stressful transition now marred by trauma, silence, and confusion.
Campus Response and Safety Reforms
The administration, after receiving flak for delayed action, has implemented emergency safety measures:
- Police have been stationed outside the campus gate.
- Access to student union rooms has been revoked.
- Preliminary installations of CCTV cameras have begun.
- Security protocols are being reviewed in consultation with local police.
However, students claim these responses are reactionary and that no formal counselling or academic support has been provided. A few departments conducted internal meetings online, but no clarity has been given regarding the conduct or postponement of semester exams.
Rising Student Anxiety
Multiple students have shared concerns about academic performance due to the disruption. Without access to library resources or guidance from faculty, preparation for legal theory papers and procedural law exams has become nearly impossible.
Some students have appealed to the university for:
- Extension or deferment of exams
- Blended learning alternatives (virtual lectures)
- Restoration of academic services with police security
Despite these requests, the college administration has remained silent on the issue. The lack of a functioning internal complaints committee (ICC) or crisis protocol further compounds student unrest.
Institutional & Legal Oversight
The college governing body met earlier this week to assess long-term security changes. Meanwhile, police investigations are continuing, with digital evidence (including CCTV footage and phone data) being scrutinized. Investigators believe the attack was not spontaneous but plotted over days, possibly targeting the survivor since her admission.
The case has triggered renewed scrutiny of how college spaces—especially politically influenced union rooms—are misused. There have also been demands from civil society groups for all educational institutions to:
- Enforce gender-sensitization training
- Reactivate Internal Complaints Committees under UGC guidelines
- Monitor former students accessing campus
- Disallow political use of student union spaces without oversight
What Other Colleges Are Doing
In the wake of this incident, several Kolkata colleges have taken proactive steps:
- Union rooms in many colleges have been sealed temporarily.
- Special women’s grievance cells have been re-activated.
- Workshops on legal rights and campus safety have been scheduled.
- Access to certain buildings after 6 PM has been restricted.
Some institutions have also started auditing security camera coverage and verifying credentials of temporary and contractual staff.
National Commission for Women (NCW) Involvement
A team from the National Commission for Women visited the campus and reported serious lapses in cooperation from both the college authorities and local police. The NCW has asked for:
- A status report on the case within 7 days
- Proof of safety infrastructure in place
- Immediate counselling and legal aid for the survivor
- Action against any administrative negligence
The commission has also called on the state higher education department to ensure that all law colleges in the state comply with gender safety norms outlined by national education regulators.
What Lies Ahead
As the first-semester exams draw closer, pressure is mounting on both the college and university administration to issue a formal academic roadmap. The survivor, meanwhile, is undergoing medical and psychological care, and has recorded her statement under Section 164 of the CrPC before a magistrate.
Students, faculty, and women’s rights groups continue to protest, calling not just for justice in this case but for larger reform across educational institutions where safety often takes a backseat to politics and prestige.
External Resources
For more context and information on campus safety and legal frameworks, refer to:
- UGC Guidelines on Safety of Students: https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/2827340_Safety-measures-guidelines.pdf
- National Commission for Women (NCW): https://ncw.nic.in
- India’s Legal Provisions on Sexual Violence (IPC Sections 375, 376, etc.): https://www.indiacode.nic.in
- Ministry of Women and Child Development – Safety Guidelines: https://wcd.nic.in
- All India Council for Technical Education – Anti-Ragging and Gender Guidelines: https://www.aicte-india.org
Final Note
This incident is a painful reminder that academic institutions must prioritize both education and safety—equally and simultaneously. As this college rethinks its policies and the state tightens oversight, it must ensure that student learning is not sacrificed in the name of damage control. More importantly, systems must be built where no student has to trade safety for ambition.
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