Kolkata gangrape case: South Calcutta Law College reopens after week-long closure, security tightened under court orders

NEW DELHI: South Calcutta Law College reopened on Monday under heavy security, more than a week after a first-year student was gang-raped on campus by three men linked to the TMC’s students’ wing. The reopening follows a green signal from Kolkata police and a directive from the Calcutta high court, which ordered classes to resume while issuing specific safety guidelines. Only BA LLB first-semester students who had not submitted their examination forms were asked to attend the first day, vice principal Nayna Chatterjee confirmed.

Senior police officers supervised security arrangements at the Kasba-based campus, while private guards checked student ID cards at the entrance.

Around 100 students arrived, many accompanied by their parents. "We are scared about our children's safety," said Sasanka Dhara, father of a first-semester student, who said he would accompany his son on exam days until the situation normalizes.Classes will follow the regular timetable starting July 8, a senior offical said. On June 25, a first-year student was allegedly raped on campus by an alumnus and two seniors—Monojit, Pramit, and Zaib—all reportedly linked to the ruling party’s student wing.

The fourth accused is a college security guard named Pinaki. The college shut down on June 29 amid widespread protests. Police brought the accused to the campus on Friday for crime scene reconstruction. While Pinaki was remanded to custody until July 4, the other three remain in police custody until July 8, as ordered by the Alipore court.(With agency inputs)