Kolkata Rape Case: TMC Disowns Accused Student Leader, Says 'He Is A Rapist'

Kolkata Rape Case: Following the alleged 'gang-rape' of a law student in Kolkata, political tensions have risen. The Trinamool Congress acknowledged that the main suspect is associated with its student wing. However, they assured that this connection would not hinder his receiving the harshest punishment. The incident occurred at South Calcutta Law College, involving Monojit Mishra, a 31-year-old lawyer and former student, along with two current students.

The accused, Monojit Mishra, is linked to the Trinamool Congress' student wing. The BJP has circulated images showing him with prominent party figures like MP Abhishek Banerjee and Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya. The crime took place on Wednesday, and all three suspects have been apprehended by authorities.

Political Reactions and Accusations

During a press conference on Friday evening, Bengal Minister Shashi Panja addressed the issue in Bengali. She highlighted that the West Bengal Assembly had passed the Aparajita Bill for death penalties for rape convicts. However, it hasn't become law due to BJP's opposition. She urged for support of the bill and emphasized that women's bodies should not be political battlegrounds.

Panja further stated, "You have to understand the pain of the victim and respect her. We have to ensure she gets justice... There are some parties that have called rapists 'sanskaari' (cultured) and garlanded them. We don't do that. This is a serious incident, we are very pained by it. The Kolkata Police has taken action and there will be a proper investigation. The people behind the crime will be punished."

Trinamool Chhatra Parishad's Stance

Trinakur Bhattacharya, head of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, expressed deep sorrow over the incident. He insisted on severe punishment for those involved. Bhattacharya questioned why accusations were directed at their student wing instead of focusing on justice for the survivor.

Bhattacharya clarified that while Mishra was indeed linked to their student wing as a junior member in 2019, he was not part of any committees in 2022 or 2023. He stressed that Mishra's party affiliation is irrelevant; what matters is ensuring he faces justice for his actions.

He also mentioned that a photo circulating of Mishra with Abhishek Banerjee dates back to 2017 and accused opponents of misleading Bengal's people by using it now.