The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday dispatched a four-member fact-finding committee to Kolkata to investigate the alleged gangrape of a law student at South Calcutta Law College, and to evaluate the overall law and order situation in West Bengal.
The committee comprises former Union Ministers Satpal Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi, Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb, and Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra. Their mission includes visiting the incident site, speaking with stakeholders, and meeting the victim’s family.
Speaking to ANI, Satpal Singh, a former police officer, expressed concern over the deteriorating safety of women in West Bengal.
“Women are becoming unsafe in West Bengal… This incident is deeply unfortunate. We will talk to all stakeholders, meet the victim’s family, and ask the police what actions have been taken,” he said.
Singh also alleged political links in the case, claiming the main accused is associated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He hoped Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would allow the team full access during their visit.
Meenakshi Lekhi emphasized the need for accountability, questioning how individuals with criminal backgrounds gain access to educational institutions.
“There must be a factual investigation. It is shocking that such incidents keep occurring despite the state being led by a woman Chief Minister,” she added.
The committee has been directed to submit its findings to BJP National President JP Nadda. The party has strongly condemned the incident and called for Chief Minister Banerjee’s resignation, citing repeated failures to ensure women’s safety.
The alleged gangrape occurred on June 25 within the college premises in Kolkata’s Kasba area. So far, four individuals, including the main accused Manojit Mishra, have been arrested. A five-member special police team has been formed to investigate the case.
The incident has reignited political tensions in the state, with the BJP accusing the ruling TMC of negligence and demanding swift justice for the victim.
