TMC student leader says many like rape accused Monojit Mishra present in other Kolkata colleges

Kolkata 

Suspended Trinamool Congress student leader and former president of Jadavpur University unit Rajanya Halder has accused that there are many like Monojit Mishra, the prime accused in South Calcutta Law College student rape case, in many colleges across West Bengal. 

“There are many such characters like Monojit Mishra hiding inside the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMC student wing) and they should be identified and given specific punishment. They also shared my distorted pictures – made by AI. Many ‘dadas’ like Manojit Mishra used to send such pictures to their juniors’ phones on WhatsApp,” Ms. Halder accused. She called for strict action against such ‘criminals’ and asked the party to identify them. 

“They exploit women and lure them about giving them positions in the party or other favours. This just means that women still do not have equal rights in the organisation,” Ms. Halder told The Hindu. 

Ms. Halder said that she informed the party’s higher ranks at the beginning of July and has brought the matter to their attention. She also said that the party has assured her that they will look into the accusations and take necessary action against the accused. 

On enquiring why, she has not filed an FIR against the perpetrators, she claimed that if she files an FIR many TMC leaders’ names will come up in the list. “I am not against the party, I still love my party. That is why I have informed party seniors and not the State authorities till now,” Ms Halder further added. 

Reacting to the comments made by Ms. Halder, Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) State president Trinankur Bhattacharjee said that they have not received any formal complaint from Ms. Halder about the issues she has spoken about. 

Priyadarshini Hakim, general Secretary of Trinamool Mahila Congress said that if Ms. Halder’s allegations are true then the perpetrators should be held accountable and punished. “There is no need to make this about any party. There are good and bad things inside every human. We need to hold the people accountable,” Ms. Hakim said. 

Debanjan Dey, Students Federation of India (Student wing of CPI(M)) West Bengal State secretary accused that TMCP has promoted the rise of the “Monojit Da model across campuses in Kolkata. There were multiple allegations against Monojit in multiple police stations, then why did they not take action?” Mr. Dey accused. 

Suspension from party 

Last year in October, Ms. Halder and her husband Prantik Chakraborty were suspended for anti-party activities, student leader Mr. Bhattacharya had said. 

The duo had made a short-film about the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder incident and the subsequent protests. The short film titled Agamani was allegedly made without any “party permission”. They were suspended before the short-film’s release.