Two months have passed since the South Calcutta Law College gang-rape incident, but the promised installation of CCTV cameras on the campus has yet to begin. Despite repeated management committee meetings, including one on last Friday, no significant security measures have been implemented so far.
In the meeting chaired by college management committee president Ashok Dev, questions were raised over the delay. At the end of the discussion, Dev said, “The financial situation was not good. All the work will be completed by the Durga Puja.”
On July 24, the management committee had decided to appoint ex-servicemen for campus security, contact a private security company and install 85 CCTV cameras. However, with none of the work completed by the August 15 deadline, a decision that was taken in the college’s administrative meetings after the incident that took place on June 25, the matter resurfaced in Friday’s meeting.
The victim, also a student of the college, was allegedly sexually assaulted inside the security guard’s room by former student of the college Monojit Mishra in presence of two other current students and a security guard. In her complaint, the victim alleged that the main door of the college was locked so that she could not flee away. Police arrested four accused, including the security guard, and submitted chargesheet mentioning Mishra as the main accused.
According to sources, the issue of finances dominated the discussion. While some members proposed redeeming the college’s fixed deposits to meet the costs, the government representative opposed the idea.
“Instead, it was decided that a formal request should be sent to the government to bear the expenses. The process is expected to take up to two months. Meanwhile, e-tenders for the project are to be floated within 15 days and ex-army personnel will be recruited for security,” said a college official.
Vice-Principal Nayana Chatterjee said, “We have written to the government for CCTV funding. Work will begin as soon as the money arrives. The issue of appointing ex-army personnel will be resolved with our finance department soon.” She assured that the process would be completed within two months.
Meanwhile, the presence of graffiti bearing the name of the main accused Mishra, also an influential leader of the ruling TMC’s youth wing, inside the college premises has triggered further controversy. Despite earlier assurances of its removal, the writing remains on the walls, angering government representatives.
Government nominee Debabrata Roychowdhury said, “Why is the name of the main accused still inside the college campus? The principal should immediately talk to students and remove this graffiti. I think the principal is still involved with them.”
In response, Nayana argued that the matter was under investigation. “That is why no hand has been touched anywhere on the campus,” she said.
The incident has once again highlighted the lingering influence of Mishra, with many alumni and temporary employees earlier alleging that his presence extended deep into the institution’s functioning.
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