Classes at South Calcutta Law College suspended, as protests erupt over rape of student

The Hindu

5 days ago

Classes have been suspended indefinitely at South Calcutta Law College (SCLC), where a student was gang-raped on June 25, as protests intensified outside the institution and in various parts of the city.
So far, four people, including two students, an ex-student, and a security guard of the college, have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang-rape.
On Sunday, SCLC authorities issued a notification that read, 'All BA LLB and LLM (General and Honours) classes at South Calcutta Law College will be suspended, and the college premises will remain closed for all students until further notice as decided by the Governing Body.'
Students restive
On Monday morning, around 80 current SCLC students from various batches gathered outside the college premises, as personnel from the police and the Rapid Action Force guarded the college gates. The entry of people has been barred since the incident came to light on Friday.
Students of the law college expressed their discontent over poor security measures in the college and the uncertainty surrounding their education.
'We are feeling extremely insecure since the incident unfolded. We have been trying to call the vice principal since this morning. We finally managed to contact her in a roundabout way, but she is unwilling to come to the college. We want her to arrange a proper meeting and listen to our demands. Our education and safety have been compromised for a long time now,' Debduti Sengupta, a fifth-year SCLC student, said on behalf of the students present.
The students also read out a list of demands on campus safety as well as education.
'Our demands include immediate suspension and action against the accused students and ex-students, formation of a sexual harassment cell, installation of CCTV cameras, appointment of female security personnel, no ID card no Entry, no entry after 4pm, and installation of sanitary napkin vending machines,' the students said.
Fracas with BJP workers
On Monday (June 30, 2025) afternoon clashes erupted between the protestors and BJP workers near the protest site outside the college. When the BJP's central fact-finding team reached the spot, they asked the police to let them into the college. The police refused to let them enter a crime scene.
'Reclaim the Night,' who organised rallies during the RG Kar rape and murder protests, were also present outside the college, protesting against the sexual assault on the law student. As both parties continued their slogan shouting, tensions soared. Reclaim the Night protestors raised 'Go Back' slogans against the BJP.
'When rapes and assaults happen in BJP-ruled states, where does the BJP fact finding committee go?' Jhelum Ray, one of the Reclaim the Night protestors, asked. This led to the BJP workers raising counter-slogans. 'Maoist people go back,' the BJP workers screamed.
The BJP protestors then charged at the Reclaim the Night protestors and physically assaulted many of them. They used their helmets to hit both male and female protestors. They also used gendered slurs against the students who were part of the protests.
'Our posters were torn, they beat us, hit us with helmets, and kicked us,' a female protester who was running away from the BJP mob told The Hindu.
The Trinamool Congress condemned the violence between BJP workers and protestors outside the law college premises on Monday.
'Today, when confronted about the Bilkis Bano and Kathua rape case, BJP karyakartas assaulted female students, molested them, and tore their clothes
This is their definition of seeking justice. Beating women in uniform and stripping college girls of their dignity? It's a ritual of perversion that repeats wherever the BJP sets foot,' the Trinamool posted on X on Monday evening.
Clashes with police
BJP workers also held protests across the city and State and clashed with police personnel at Alipurduar in north Bengal, and in the heart of Kolkata at Esplanade's Dorina Crossing. The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the BJP's student wing, conducted a sit-in at B.B. Ganguly Street near Lalbazaar (Kolkata Police headquarters).
Meanwhile, activists of the Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) sought to know why the Vice Principal Nayna Chatterji, had not been removed from her post since the incident came to light.
'It is impossible to keep the vice principal in her post, while an investigation into all the corruption and mishaps in the institution is ongoing,' their statement read.
APDR also demanded the resignation of the vice-principal and the head of the governing body of the institution.