New Delhi: The horrific alleged gang rape of a 24-year-old student at South Calcutta Law College has taken a significant turn with the release of CCTV footage corroborating the victim’s claims.
Police officials confirmed on Saturday that seven hours of footage, from 3:30 pm to 10:50 pm on June 25th, unequivocally supports the victim’s account of being forcibly taken to the guard’s room. The footage clearly shows the movements of the three accused, the victim, and the security guard, providing compelling visual evidence.
“The CCTV footage confirms the girl’s allegations. It shows the movements of the three accused, the security guard, and the victim. We are currently examining the footage,” an investigating officer told news agency PTI.
The incident, which occurred on the evening of June 25, has led to the arrest of three accused. Manojit Mishra, a college alumnus and ad-hoc staff member, has been identified as the prime suspect, while two students of the college, Pratim Mukherjee and Zaib Ahmed, and the college security guard, Pinaki Banerjee, have also been arrested for their role in the crime.
Banerjee’s arrest followed inconsistent statements during questioning; evidence suggests he abandoned his post while the assault occurred. “The guard did nothing to protect the victim. Evidence suggests he left the scene even as the victim was forcibly taken into his room by the main accused, while the other two stood guard outside,” the officer said.
Investigators have meticulously gathered evidence from three locations on campus. The three critical places for the investigations are the students’ union room, a washroom, and the guard’s room, where the alleged assault took place.
Items seized include hair strands, bottles with unidentified liquids, and a hockey stick, the latter allegedly used to threaten the victim. The presence of signs of struggle in each location further strengthens the victim’s testimony. All samples have been sent for forensic analysis.
Further evidence includes a 1.5-minute video clip recovered from Mishra’s mobile phone, currently undergoing forensic examination to determine if it was shared or deleted. The victim’s medical examination confirmed her claim of gang rape. The victim’s statement alleges that the assault was a result of Mishra’s rejected marriage proposal; the trio reportedly threatened to harm her boyfriend and her family if she continued to refuse.
The Kolkata Police has formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case thoroughly. The SIT will record confidential statements from the victim and her parents and determine if the crime was premeditated.
