“A Predator in Plain Sight”: Law College Rape Accused Had Long History of Abuse, Say Students

The arrest of Monojit Mishra, alias "Mango"—the key accused in the recent rape of a 24-year-old student on a prominent Kolkata law college campus—has sent shockwaves through the academic and political circles of the city. But for many within the college, the news brought not surprise—but grim validation.

According to a cross-section of his batchmates and juniors, Monojit Mishra had long been feared on campus for his disturbing behaviour, marked by sexual predation, psychological manipulation, and unchecked power backed by political connections.

His signature line—"Tui amay biye korbi?" (Will you marry me?)—was reportedly posed not just to the rape survivor but to numerous other women on campus, often as a creepy conversation starter. Behind the nickname “Mango” was a man whose actions had crossed red lines long ago, former students said.

A Pattern of Abuse Ignored

Monojit’s track record allegedly included morphing photographs of female students, recording private moments, and circulating them among close aides. He reportedly ran campus WhatsApp groups, using them to post body-shaming content and lewd jokes about women. According to a college insider, “He had a habit of filming everything. He weaponised those recordings. Girls were terrified, but complaints were routinely buried.”

In 2021, Mishra was ousted from the college's Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) unit, but his influence only grew. Despite being an ad-hoc staff member, he had free access to staff rooms, administrative offices, and virtually every part of the campus, operating with the swagger of a man who knew he was untouchable.

Terror on Campus

“He was like the boss of the college,” said one student. “Even guards and teachers stayed silent. We were told to avoid him from the first semester itself.” A judge’s daughter, who briefly attended the college, quit after just six months, citing constant harassment. “He remained in the same class for nearly a decade just to stay in college and dominate,” she revealed.

Even protests were not spared. Students who participated in last year’s ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement allege they were threatened and beaten by Monojit and his men. His political backing gave him a dangerous sense of impunity, insiders said.

“Posting obscene jokes, adding and removing people from official student groups, threatening students—it was all normalised,” a first-year student shared, trembling with fear. “We felt like prisoners in our own college.”

Systemic Failure

What makes this case even more chilling is the institutional inaction. Despite several formal complaints filed to the teacher-in-charge and even at Gariahat Police Station, no concrete action was taken. “This wasn’t a one-off incident—it was a pattern of terror. No student, especially girls, felt safe,” said a senior alumnus.

A Culture of Silence Finally Shattered

As the survivor fights for justice, students hope this horrifying episode will lead to overdue accountability. “For years, his behaviour was an open secret,” said one student. “It took something this horrific to finally wake the system up.”

With growing outrage on campus and beyond, many are now demanding a deeper investigation—not just into Mishra, but also into the institutional apathy that allowed such a predator to operate in plain sight for nearly a decade.

Also Read: Law Student Allegedly Gang-Raped Inside Kolkata College, Three Arrested