Monojit Mishra’s reign of terror had grabbed parts of Kolkata for more than ten years, but much of it remained buried about the gangrape of a first-year student within South Calcutta Law College brought his long and violent history to the surface.
Mishra, a 31-year-old Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) leader, was arrested on 28 June together with two others because they raped the woman in a university room, a day after she had submitted a police complaint. A medical report confirmed signs of forced penetration, bite brands and scratch injuries.
According to the survivor, Mishra Had previously proposed a marriage to her, what she refused. She claimed that he raped her while the other two were accused. A university guard was also arrested for alleging ignoring of crime and not warning from the university authorities or the police.
The incident has activated an important political row in West Bengal, whereby the opposition BJP accused the prevailing Trinamool congress of protecting the suspect because of his political ties. However, the TMC denied each association and insisted that the law would follow its course.
But the outrage goes beyond a single incident. The criminal past of Mishra, now under renewed control, reveals a trail of accusations of more than ten years.
FIRs are registered against him on several police stations in Kolkata, including Kasba, Anandapur, Gariahat and Kalighat, for charges, ranging from the modesty of women and molesting to attack and perform death threats.
In 2013 he reportedly attacked a colleague and stabbed a man before hiding until 2016. Despite the appearance, his pattern of violence and intimidation remained uncontrolled.
Titas manna, A former college partner and one-time good friendTold India Today that he and Monojit have been close since 2012 through their association with TMCP at South Calcutta Law College.
However, their relationship was soured after a violent incident in 2013. “An attempt to kill a case was submitted against Monojit in 2013 after he reportedly stabbed a catering worker and cut off their finger,” Titas recalled. After the incident, Monojit disappeared from the college for a few years.
He returned in 2016, reportedly after the case was quietly established. In 2017, when he tried to re-introduce student politics, TMCP leaders rejected him because of his criminal background.
“Everyone, from the student Union to the TMCP leadership in South Calcutta, told him strictly that he can come to the university, follow the lessons, complete the course, but he cannot be in the student union. He didn’t like this,” Titas said.
“After he had created this commotion at the university band, no one wanted to associate with him. His offensive behavior just got worse – he would argue, hit other students, extort them, submit false things against others,” he added. Despite internal objections, Monojit maintained a stronghold on campus. “He had a reign of terror at college,” Titas said.
He also clarified that the TMCP never supported Monojit’s behavior. “The party never endorsed the actions of Monojit and even a former president of unity had escalated concern to the higher authorities,” he said. Yet the presence of Monojit on campus remained uncontrolled.
Even after graduation, Monojit remained a visible figure in student politics and was often seen as an informal power broker between students and local political figures. Sources in the college confirmed that his name had surfaced in several complaints over the years with regard to the indiscipline and intimidation of the campus, Although no formal action was taken.
In 2019 he was booked for publishing threats to kill and surpass the modesty of a woman. The same load appeared again in 2022, followed by a Molestingzaak in 2023 and the physical attack of a university protection in 2024.
A letter from 2022 that is written anonymously to the vice director of South Calcutta Law College by a TMCP member warned of the criminal background of Monojit and insisted on disciplinary measures, with reference to safety problems. But the letter was ignored.
The police commissioner Manoj Verma of Kolkata told India Today: “All aspects are currently being investigated and the necessary steps will be taken.” But the pattern of delay has fueled the criticism, with BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya accusing the law enforcement of ‘deliberate inactivity or political protection’.
In response to public protest, the Kolkata police has formed a special research team (SIT) of five members under the supervision of ACP Pradip Kumar Ghosal to investigate the gangrape case.
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