‘Nail scratch marks are fresh’: New evidence emerges against Kolkata gangrape accused

Monojit Mishra

Scratch marks have been found on the body of Monojit Mishra, the prime accused in the gang-rape of a 24-year-old law student in Kolkata, Hindustan Times reported.

The signs of injuries and scratch marks on Monojit’s body indicate that the victim tried to fight back during the assault, which allegedly took place inside a security guard’s room on the premises of South Calcutta Law College on June 25.

"There are signs of injuries, precisely scratch marks, on the body of Monojit. These injuries are fresh. Such injuries happen when someone faces struggle or resistance," news agency PTI reported, quoting a well-placed police source.

Previously, the medical examination of the rape survivor had also aligned with her statement, with doctors finding proof of “forceful penetration, bite marks, and nail scratches" on her body, the report added.

Moreover, CCTV footage of the campus also showed the survivor being dragged by the accused inside the college premises.

Besides Monojit, police have also arrested his co-accused, Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee, who were students of the law college. Later, college security guard Pinaki Bandyopadhyay was also arrested in connection with the case.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kolkata Police also found evidence of Monojit's conversation with college Vice Principal Dr Nayna Chatterji the morning after the crime.

"We found that there was a call from Monojit's number to the college VP the next morning after the crime took place. We have questioned the VP twice since yesterday to know the details of their conversation," an IPS officer was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying.

He added that efforts are underway to find out details about the telephonic conversation between the two.

Additionally, police have also recovered the CCTV footage of a medical shop from where one of the accused, Zaib Ahmed, bought an inhaler for the survivor.
The survivor had requested her attackers to take her to a hospital when she fell sick during the assault. But when they denied her request, she reportedly urged them to get her an inhaler to help her breathlessness, the report added.

"Zaib Ahmed had gone to the medical store to fetch the inhaler. The owner of the pharmacy said that Zaib wanted to make half of the payment in cash and the rest via UPI, which we didn’t agree to. The accused then made the full payment online. We have taken a note of their version," the police official added.

As per the report, the police officer said they have made a list of 16 people, mostly students, who were seen in the CCTV footage at the college after class hours. So far, investigating officers have questioned six of them. "We are talking to them to find out whether they have seen or heard anything there on June 25," he added.

Several pieces of evidence, including digital footprints, medical tests, and the scene of the crime, have all corroborated the survivor's complaint.

As per the report, the police on Tuesday sought an extended 10-day custody of all the arrested accused at the Alipore court.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma told reporters that the investigating officers have collected many pieces of evidence in connection with the crime. "The matter is quite sensitive, and I will not be able to reveal details. We have arrested the three accused within 12 hours after the FIR was filed. Another person was also arrested later," he was quoted by HT as saying.