KOLKATA, July 1— Doctors have found fresh scratch marks on the body of Monojit Mishra, the prime accused in the gang-rape of a student inside South Calcutta Law College, indicating the victim’s forceful resistance during the alleged assault, a senior police official said Tuesday.
“These are nail marks, typical of defensive injuries. They are consistent with what we often see when someone tries to fight off an attacker,” said a Kolkata Police officer close to the probe. The incident occurred on the evening of June 25, reportedly inside a security guard’s room on the college campus.
As the nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) digs deeper into the high-profile case, call data records have revealed a conversation between Mishra and college Vice Principal Nayna Chatterji the morning after the crime. “We are examining that phone call carefully. The Vice Principal has been questioned twice,” the officer added.
Police are also investigating the role of Zaib Ahmed, another accused, who allegedly stepped out during the crime to purchase an inhaler for the victim, who complained of breathlessness during the prolonged ordeal. “We have obtained CCTV footage from a pharmacy confirming Zaib’s visit. The shopkeeper recalled that Zaib attempted a part-cash, part-UPI payment before settling the bill digitally,” the officer said.
According to the victim’s complaint, she had pleaded with her attackers to take her to a hospital after falling severely ill, but was denied. Instead, she was briefly provided an inhaler, which gave her temporary relief before the torture resumed.
Kolkata Police have also started questioning students captured on CCTV footage in the college premises after class hours on June 25. “We’ve identified 16 individuals from the footage. Six of them have been questioned so far about their whereabouts and observations that evening,” the official said.
Meanwhile, a mix of digital footprints, medical evidence, and circumstantial corroboration is strengthening the case. “There is a strong match between forensic evidence and the survivor’s official complaint,” the officer confirmed.
With the four-day police remand for the accused expiring, police sought an extension of 10 days in Alipore court on Tuesday. The four in custody include Monojit Mishra, Zaib Ahmed, another unnamed accomplice, and Pinaki Bandyopadhyay—the security guard who was reportedly on duty at the time of the crime.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, addressing reporters outside the court, said, “We have made significant progress. The case is sensitive, and I cannot disclose all details, but the arrests were swift—three accused were picked up within 12 hours of the FIR.”
The college gang-rape has sparked outrage and demands for stricter campus safety measures as investigators continue to unravel the full extent of complicity and cover-up in the case.
Read More: Fourth Arrest in Kolkata Law College Gang-Rape Case
