Kolkata rape accused has history of harassing women, campus violence: Ex-friend

Monojit Mishra, the prime accused in the gang-rape of a first-year law student inside South Calcutta Law College, had a long history of violence, intimidation and abusive behaviour, a former college mate has alleged.

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Titas Manna, one-time friend of Monojit, claimed the 31-year-old Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) leader was known for harassing women students and attacking classmates, yet avoided accountability due to his local clout.

CRIMINAL PAST AND CAMPUS VIOLENCE

Titas said he and Monojit were close since 2012 through their association with TMCP at South Calcutta Law College. However, their relationship deteriorated after a violent incident in 2013.

“An attempt to murder case was lodged against Monojit in 2013 after he allegedly stabbed a catering worker and cut off their finger,” Titas recalled. Following the incident, Monojit disappeared from campus for a few years.

He rejoined the college in 2016, apparently after the case was quietly settled. However, when he tried to return to student politics in 2017, TMCP leaders rejected him due to his criminal background.

“Everyone, from the student union to the TMCP leadership in South Calcutta, strictly told him that he can come to college, attend classes, complete the course, but he won’t be allowed to be in the student union. He did not like this,” Titas said.

Days later, in December 2017, Monojit stormed the campus with a mob of 30-40 supporters, attacked student union members, and created an uproar.

MONOJIT MISHRA’S ‘REIGN OF TERROR’

“After he created this uproar on college premises, nobody wanted to associate with him. His objectionable behaviour just got worse – he would get into fights, beat up other students, extort them, lodge false cases against others,” Titas said.

Despite internal objections, Monojit maintained a stronghold on campus. “He had a reign of terror in the college,” Titas added.

He clarified that the TMCP never supported Monojit’s conduct. “The party never endorsed Monojit’s actions and even a former unit president had escalated concerns to the higher authorities,” he said.

Despite that, Monojit's presence on campus continued unchecked.

‘WOMEN WERE TOO AFRAID TO FILE COMPLAINTS’

Titas alleged that Monojit had been involved in multiple incidents targeting women during their time at the college, but that survivors were afraid to come forward and lodge formal complaints.

Monojit, was arrested on Wednesday along with two current students at the law college for allegedly gang-raping a first-year student inside the guard room at college on June 25. A medical examination confirmed forced penetration, bite marks and scratch injuries.

According to investigators, Monojit raped the woman while the two co-accused acted as accomplices and watched.

Monojit had previously harassed another woman student in a similar manner, but the incident never became public because the survivor did not file a complaint, Titas claimed.

Even after graduation, Monojit (31) continued to be a visible figure in student politics and was seen by many as an informal power broker between students and local political figures.

Sources in the college said that Monojit's name had cropped up in multiple complaints over the years for campus indiscipline and intimidation, though no formal action was taken.

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