Archana Majumdar said the NCW stands with the survivor and intends to assist her for as long as needed. However, she expressed concern that the police were unable to provide her with information on the survivor’s whereabouts
Social activists carry torches and shout slogans during a rally in Kolkata on Sunday, protesting the gang rape of a student inside a law college. PIC/AFP
National Commission for Women (NCW) member Archana Majumdar on Sunday visited the South Calcutta Law College, where a first-year student was allegedly gang-raped by three people, including an alumnus of the institution. Her visit came amid mounting political and public outrage over the incident, which has reignited demands for improved safety in West Bengal’s educational institutions.
Majumdar said the NCW stands with the survivor and intends to assist her for as long as needed. However, she expressed concern that the police were unable to provide her with information on the survivor’s whereabouts, PTI reported.
“The commission stands beside her,” she said. “It is necessary to speak to her parents as well. It’s a part of the investigation [by the NCW].”
Majumdar added that the commission’s mandate includes speaking with both the survivor and her parents to assess their needs, including security and assistance in continuing her education.
During her visit to the college, Majumdar had a verbal exchange with police officers present on the campus, reported PTI. An Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) stated that apart from the NCW member, two individuals accompanying her were allowed entry after their mobile numbers were noted, but no videography or photography would be permitted inside.
Majumdar later entered the campus and visited the guard room, where the alleged incident reportedly took place on Wednesday. “I will report that I could not complete my job,” she said.
Kolkata law college gang rape: BJP, Congress hold protest
The police have arrested the prime accused—an alumnus of the college—along with two current students. On Saturday morning, a college guard was also apprehended. A five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an officer of assistant commissioner rank has been formed to investigate the case.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari led a rally in Kolkata on Sunday, demanding justice for the survivor and greater protection for women across the state. He accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of failing to ensure the safety of women.
"Unless Mamata Banerjee is thrown out of power, such incidents of abuses against women will continue to happen in Bengal. The CM had in the past cast aspersions on the characters of brutalised women instead of taking strong action against perpetrators," Adhikari said.
He also announced a BJP youth wing rally to Kasba police station on July 2. “We will seek the nod of Calcutta High Court for organising the march up to Kasba police station,” he said.
“Thousands will march towards Kasba police station from Park Street–J L Nehru crossing. The barbaric atrocities on a law college student has triggered the immediate call for this march. But this is not an isolated incident. We are protesting against the continuing atrocities against women for the past years – at R G Kar, Hanskhali, Kaliaganj, Kamduni, Park Street to name a few. In all these incidents the perpetrators were let away scot-free and the brutalities never stopped,” he added.
“We will not sit idle. There will be waves of protests till this Mamata Banerjee regime, which has been patronising criminals and abusers of women, is thrown out of power,” Adhikari declared.
As political outrage spread, the Congress held a protest in Khidderpore and the BJP’s youth wing staged a rally in Hatibagan, alleging a worsening law and order situation in the state. CPI(M)’s student and youth arms, the SFI and DYFI, also organised a demonstration in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district.
Civil society groups under the banner ‘Abhaya Manch’, formed in the aftermath of the RG Kar Hospital case, held protests outside Kasba Police Station and later marched from Gariahat to Hazra More. Prominent social activist Rimjhim Sinha and writer-activist Satabdi Das led the rally.
“There needs to be a spontaneous protest unless such predators are brought to book,” said Das.
The rally was stopped by police near Lake Mall due to lack of permission, resulting in a sit-in protest. Participants, including actors Srilekha Mitra and Badshah Moitra, drew graffiti on the road and argued with officers on the scene.
“Nothing has changed after the barbaric assault and murder of 'Abhaya' at her workplace in R G Kar Hospital in August. Had action been taken in connection with the larger conspiracy angle in the R G Kar case, those involved in the barbaric assault at the law college campus would not be so belligerent and this incident would not have happened," said Sinha.
Responding to the allegations and protests, Trinamool Congress state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, "The party has zero tolerance for those who commit such barbarism on women. Police have already arrested four persons in connection with the incident."
State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya accused the BJP of politicising the issue. "The BJP is politicising the incident. Why are they silent on incidents of atrocities on women in Odisha, in many other BJP-ruled states and in Manipur?" she asked.
(With PTI inputs)
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