Kolkata Law College Rape: Trio Pre-Planned Crime, Had Filmed Victims For Blackmail, Police Say

Three of the four individuals arrested over the alleged gangrape of a female student at a prominent law college in Kolkata had meticulously planned the assault in advance, a senior police officer revealed on Monday.

A nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the case discovered that the three main accused — Monojit Mishra, Pratim Mukherjee, and Zaid Ahmed — were previously involved in sexually harassing female students at the same institution, news agency PTI reported. According to the officer, “The entire matter was premeditated. The trio had been plotting for several days to carry out this torture on the victim. We have found that the victim was targeted by the prime accused from the very first day she got admission to the college.”

The SIT found that these individuals would reportedly film such incidents on their mobile phones and then use the recordings to intimidate and blackmail the victims.

Kolkata Law College Rape: Searches Conducted for Incriminating Footage

Kolkata Police, as cited by the officer, have launched a thorough search for the videos allegedly recorded by the accused. On Sunday, searches took place at the homes of Pratim Mukherjee and Zaid Ahmed. “We are looking for footage related to this and possibly other incidents,” the officer noted. Investigators are also examining whether videos of the June 25 incident were circulated or forwarded to other groups, PTI reported.

“We are trying to find out whether those clips were forwarded or shared with some other groups. In that case, we have to get in touch with those who have received that,” the officer added.

As part of the ongoing probe, the SIT has compiled a list of more than 25 individuals, mainly students of South Calcutta Law College, who were present on campus on the evening of June 25. “All these people will be questioned in connection with the investigation. We have to find out what they witnessed that evening,” the officer said.

The shocking case involves the alleged gangrape of a female student by three accused — including an alumnus and two current students of South Calcutta Law College, located in Kolkata’s Kasba area. The fourth person arrested in connection with the case is a security guard employed at the college.

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