Several petitions have been moved before the Calcutta High Court asking for an independent and court-monitored investigation into the alleged rape of a law student on the premises of South Kolkata Law College. These pleas come soon after the horrifying rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital, prompting concerns over women’s safety in educational and medical institutions.
A division bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De is hearing the matter, with the case listed for further consideration on Thursday.
According to the complainant, on 25th June, while she had gone to the college for academic work, three accused individuals allegedly forced her to multiple spots inside the college premises, eventually taking her to the guard’s room, where she was sexually assaulted.
The victim further alleged that the accused recorded a video of the incident and threatened her to stay silent about what had happened.
“Upon filing of the complaint, all three accused named by the survivor were arrested the very next day by Kolkata Police, along with the guard in whose room the assault reportedly took place,” the report stated.
A local court in Kolkata remanded the accused in police custody for four days from the date of their arrest.
“Notably, the state government of West Bengal has also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising nine members, led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, to thoroughly investigate the incident,” the bench was informed.
In addition to demanding an independent probe, the petitions have sought strict security measures on campuses to prevent similar crimes and ensure the safety of women students. The matter remains under the court’s scrutiny as it continues to hear the pleas on the next scheduled date.
