Kolkata law student rape: Monojit Mishra ‘set eyes on victim', planned to 'teach her a lesson'

Kolkata rape accused

The brutal gang rape of a 24-year-old law student on a Kolkata college campus last week was allegedly premeditated by the prime suspect, Monojit Mishra, who had reportedly "set eyes on her" on the survivor since she enrolled in the course, investigators revealed. According to co-accused Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee, Mishra had decided to "teach her a lesson" after she repeatedly spurned his advances.

As reported by TOI, the two arrested law students told police that Mishra, a former Trinamool Chhatra Parishad office-bearer with alleged influence over college admissions, had frequently discussed the survivor in his inner circle. He allegedly tried to lure her by offering the post of college union general secretary, his "final bait”, before orchestrating the assault inside a campus security guard’s room on June 25.

TOI quoted a source as saying that, "Zaib and Pramit said that at least two days before the crime, Monojit informed them that the survivor would be on campus to submit an exam form. They were instructed to keep her there until evening,"

After the rape, Mishra allegedly directed aides to monitor the campus and nearby Kasba police station for any unusual activity. Meanwhile, the survivor was picked up by her father. Investigators discovered that Mishra, a temporary non-teaching staff member, called a college official the next morning, though the official claimed the conversation was purely work-related.

Pramit reportedly contacted a lawyer the same day, while he and Zaib called several seniors, some with political ties, pleading for help. However, they were reportedly told to "face the consequences".

Police sources were cited by TOI as saying that Mishra was "confident" the survivor would not report the crime, believing a recorded video of the assault would silence her. "He had been roaming free despite police filing chargesheets in each of the 11 FIRs filed against him since 2013 and was confident he would get away this time as well," a source added. Disturbingly, investigators allege he planned to abuse her again days later, using the footage as leverage.

All 17 students present on campus that day are being questioned as police explore possible larger conspiracies. Authorities have urged other potential victims to come forward.