New Delhi [India], June 28 : Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday criticised the West Bengal government over the alleged gangrape case of a law student in Kolkata's South Calcutta Law College. Chowdhury stated that the incident demonstrates the deteriorating law and order situation in Bengal, which has descended into anarchy.
"It demonstrates that law & order in Bengal has been deteriorating from bad to worse. Virtually a semblance of anarchy has descended in Bengal, as a result of which, even in the law college hostel, a girl student had been gangraped," the Congress leader told ANI.
He alleged that the accused individuals, who are reportedly associated with the Trinamool Congress, have been emboldened by their connection to the ruling party.
Claiming that the TMC is "harbouring such criminals" in the state, he added, "This kind of arrogance, audacity and courage could be gathered only by those who belong to the ruling dispensation. These kinds of heinous criminals are being harboured by the ruling party in Bengal as a result of which we are witnessing sordid incidents."
Chowdhury's remarks come amid growing outrage and protests in West Bengal, with many demanding swift action against the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Police arrested the guard of South Calcutta Law College on Saturday in connection with the case.
Kolkata police said, "Guard of the Law College, Pinaki Banerjee (55) has been arrested in the case," after a female student was allegedly gang-raped inside the South Calcutta Law College in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday.
Earlier, the police had arrested three accused within 24 hours. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), were former students or staff members of the same law college. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the ACJM of Alipore, South 24 Parganas, with a prayer to remand them to Police Custody for a proper investigation into the case.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognisance of the incident on Friday. Taking immediate notice, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar expressed deep concern and wrote to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, urging a time-bound investigation under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
NCW has also written to the Bengal Chief Secretary, directing that there should be "full cooperation by the police to facilitate the NCW Member Dr Archana Mujumdar's access to the victim and her family," an Immediate and confidential internal medical examination of the victim without delay, and to submit said reports to the NCW.