Kolkata Law College Case: India’s Unfinished Battle Against Gendered Violence
Protests against Kolkata Law College Gangrape case! (Image Mita Chakraborty, X)
West Bengal Fails to Learn from RG Kar Doctor Rape-Murder Case
By AMIT KUMAR
The alleged gangrape of a 24-year-old student at South Calcutta Law College has again exposed the persistent crisis of violence against women in India. The incident, barely a year after the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, underscores a disturbing truth: despite stricter laws and public outrage, Indian women remain vulnerable—even in places meant to be safe.
According to the survivor, she was assaulted inside a security guard’s room by three men—two students and a former student reportedly linked to the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) student wing. A fourth person, a security guard, was arrested for alleged negligence. She was beaten, filmed, and threatened with blackmail—acts that show both cruelty and a terrifying sense of impunity. Though the swift police response is commendable, public anger remains high, with widespread protests and renewed scrutiny of women’s safety in academic institutions.
The case echoes the 2024 RG Kar tragedy, where a 31-year-old doctor was raped and murdered after a gruelling 36-hour shift. The aftermath—a 42-day doctors’ strike and a court-ordered CBI probe—reflected not just grief but deep institutional mistrust. The victim’s father, reacting to the latest incident, blamed the West Bengal government for failing to safeguard women.
Globally, India’s reputation is under strain. The US State Department maintains a Level 2 advisory warning women against solo travel in India. Recent international incidents, such as the alleged rape of a French woman in Rajasthan and a Brazilian-Spanish tourist in Jharkhand, have added to concerns. Assocham reports a 25% drop in bookings by women tourists from the US and UK—a stark economic and reputational cost.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reinforces this picture. India reported nearly 32,000 rape cases in 2022—about 86 each day. The real numbers are likely higher due to underreporting. In 89% of cases, the perpetrators were known to the victim; 10% involved minors. Conviction rates are worryingly low—only 27.4% in 2022—undermining both deterrence and faith in justice.
The cultural and political dimensions are equally troubling. Victim-blaming remarks from TMC leaders and allegations that the party shielded the accused reflect a deep rot. Even TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has publicly criticized his party’s handling, while fellow MP Mahua Moitra condemned misogynistic comments. Meanwhile, the BJP has seized on the case to attack the ruling party—politicizing a human tragedy but also highlighting the need for accountability.
Why do such crimes persist despite tougher laws, including the post-Nirbhaya 2013 Criminal Law (Amendment) Act? Because laws alone aren’t enough. Social stigma, fear of retaliation, and low trust in police deter victims from reporting. The workplace, a critical frontier for women’s empowerment, remains unsafe—partly why women make up less than one-third of the urban workforce.
Both the RG Kar and Law College incidents occurred in state-run institutions, revealing failures in campus security—from lax surveillance to unvetted personnel. Though India has the 2013 Sexual Harassment Act and the Vishaka Guidelines (1997), enforcement remains patchy.
What’s needed is a complete systems overhaul: better-trained police, time-bound trials, campus and hospital security upgrades, and public awareness campaigns that challenge victim-blaming. The proposed Aparajita Anti-Rape Bill could be a meaningful step—if it ensures swift, transparent justice.
The Kolkata Law College case must not fade into the background. Every act of violence against women chips away at India’s moral and democratic foundations. Justice must be delivered—not just for one survivor, but for all women who deserve to live, work, and learn without fear.
(This is an opinion piece; views expressed belong solely to the author)
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
About The Author
