Kolkata Rape Case: When educational Institutions Turn a Blind Eye to Women's Safety

Kolkata is once again shamed. Just a year after the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital shook the city, another woman was sexually assaulted on the premises of a law college.

Last month, a first-year student of South Calcutta Law College was gang raped inside a security guard’s room in the campus.

The prime accused, Monojit Mishra, is an alumnus of the college.

According to media reports, Mishra took revenge on the girl after she rejected his marriage proposal.

Mishra was known for his unruly behaviour in the college and used to harass female students.

He got himself enrolled in the college in 2007 but dropped out later, and then rejoined it in 2017 and graduated from there in 2022.

He also held a position in TMC’s student wing. However, he was removed from the post following reports of ruckus he was charged with creating on the campus.

He again in 2023 returned to the college as a staff member (non-teaching) on a contractual basis.  Despite several allegations of molestation and harassment levelled against him, no action was taken.

After the rape incident, many female students have come forward accusing Mishra of unruly behaviour on the campus in the past.

Female students would feel scared of Mishra.

What is more disturbing about this incident is that Mishra’s misbehaviour with female students and his rowdyism was allegedly ignored by the college authority. He took advantage of it.

Even after allegedly sexually assaulting the woman, Mishra would visit eateries and was found conversing with the vice-principal.

He was confident that he would get away with the crime as he had always.

How can an institution allow an unruly student on the campus compromising the safety and security of other students?

Yet, he returned to college as a staff member in the non-teaching department on a contractual basis despite all this. He was appointed by the governing body of the college whose president is Trinamool legislator Ashok Kumar Deb. However, TMC has distanced itself from the accused.

Currently, the investigation is going on. It is sad that educational spaces, called a “second home” are not safe for women.

Had strict action been taken against Monojit earlier, the victim could have been saved.