KOLKATA: The investigation over the alleged gang rape incident at a law college in Kolkata made significant progress on June 29 when the recovered CCTV footage corroborated the sequence of incident with the victim’s complaint, Kolkata Police sources said.
On Sunday night a citizens’ protest march was obstructed by police midway by putting up barricades near Lake Mall on Rashbehari Avenue in South Kolkata. The march was called by ‘Abhaya Mancha’, a non-political organisation, from Gariahat intersection to Hazra crossing to protest against the rape incident.
Many eminent citizens of the city participated in the march. It may be recalled that 'Abhaya Mancha ' was constituted after the incident of rape and murder of a junior doctor in RG Kar Hospital in August last year.
This forum did organise many programmes, seeking a judgement for such a heinous crime.
Meanwhile, the DNA sample of the victim in the incident has been collected. According to police sources, DNA samples of the three accused in the gang rape have also been collected. All these DNA samples will be tested.
A section of investigators believes that its report will be vital in the investigation of the incident.
On the other hand, the number of members of the SIT (Special Investigation Team) formed by the Kolkata Police to investigate the alleged gang rape incident has been increased from five to nine. Among the newly added four members, one is a female sub-inspector.
“The incident allegedly took place on June 25 at the guard's room of the South Calcutta Law College. Four people have been arrested so far. The complainant was taken to the spot on Saturday morning for reconstruction of the incident. The reconstruction lasted for over two hours and was videographed,” a senior police official said on Sunday.
“All three accused are seen at the spot in the footage,” the official informed.
Meanwhile, National Commission for Women (NCW) member Archana Majumdar on Sunday visited the South Calcutta Law College, where the incident of gang rape allegedly took place. However, she was not allowed any videography or still photography inside by the police.
She also alleged that the police could not provide her with the details of the whereabouts of survivor. “The commission stands beside her,” she said, maintaining that the NCW's mandate is to assist a survivor as long as she wants. Majumdar said that it is necessary to speak to her parents as well. “It's a part of the investigation (by the NCW),” she added.
The family of the victim of the alleged gang rape incident is not seeking a CBI investigation right now. Since the incident came to light on Friday, there have been demands for a CBI investigation from various quarters.
They claim that the police are not investigating properly.
However, the victim's family does not agree with that demand. When asked by the media, a family member said, “We are not seeking a CBI investigation. We have faith in the police investigation.”
Meanwhile, in protest to his detention for approximately 16 hours by the police, Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday wrote a letter to the Kolkata Police Commissioner, demanding to conduct a full-fledged enquiry and disciplinary action against the police personnel who ordered and executed his “illegal” detention.
