The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Kolkata law college rape case has been expanded from five to nine members to expedite the investigation, police officers confirmed Sunday. The move comes as investigators make significant progress, with collected CCTV footage reportedly corroborating the statement of the first-year student of the law college who was allegedly raped on June 25 in the security guard’s room on the campus.
Police sources revealed that more than seven and a half hours of CCTV footage from the college’s external gate and premises have been collected and meticulously examined. “Yes, the CCTV footage… also corroborates the victim’s statement,” a senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Indian Express, specifically referring to the complainant’s claim that she was prevented from leaving the college.
So far, four people have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape: a contractual staffer and former student of the college, Monojit Mishra, 31; and two students, Zaib Ahmed, 19, and Pramit Mukherjee, 20; and a security guard of the college, Pinaki Banerjee.
All four arrested were visible in the CCTV footage obtained by the police from the day of the alleged rape, confirming their presence at the scene, as per the police. The SIT has already applied for the confidential statements of the survivor and her parents.
Bidisha Kalita, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Jadavpur Division, Kolkata, along with Pradeep Kumar Ghoshal, Assistant Commissioner of Police (South Suburbs), who leads the SIT, visited the crime scene on Sunday and began an examination.
Investigators have compiled a list of all those who visited the college on June 25, based on CCTV footage and witness statements. All those on this list will be questioned, with some already summoned by the police. The survivor’s parents are also expected to record their confidential statements before a magistrate.
A crucial development in the investigation was the reconstruction of the crime scene on Saturday for over two hours in the presence of the survivor.
