Kolkata4 hours agoAuthor: Tirthankar Das
A 25-year-old postgraduate student from North Bengal has accused her batchmate of physically assaulting and molesting her on the campus of a private college in Kolkata, alleging that the July 31 incident was the culmination of more than a year of harassment, death threats and institutional negligence. In a formal complaint lodged with Pragati Maidan Police Station, the student alleged that the assault took place shortly after her convocation ceremony.
Mother allegedly assaulted during confrontation
According to the complaint, the student’s mother, who had accompanied her to the campus, was also assaulted while trying to intervene. The survivor alleged that the accused verbally abused both of them before physically attacking them and threatening to kill her mother. She said the incident occurred near the college’s main reception gate and was captured on CCTV cameras, urging police to preserve the footage as evidence.
Complaint details repeated harassment since 2025
The student alleged she had been facing harassment from the accused since 2025, including verbal abuse, molestation, intimidation and repeated death threats. She claimed she had submitted both verbal and written complaints to faculty members and college authorities but no effective action was taken. According to the complaint, she even skipped her farewell ceremony earlier this year fearing she would encounter the accused.
Survivor alleges institutional negligence, retaliation
The complaint further alleges that after reporting the harassment, she faced academic discrimination, exclusion from practical assignments and victim-blaming during proceedings before the college’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). The student also accused the batchmate of consuming illegal drugs on or around the campus and claimed the administration repeatedly ignored complaints regarding his behaviour. She alleged campus security allowed the accused to leave through a rear exit after the incident while she and her mother remained inside the campus for hours fearing for their safety.
Police urged to preserve CCTV evidence
The survivor has requested police to preserve the CCTV footage, formally acknowledge her complaint and initiate legal action against the accused for alleged assault, molestation, criminal intimidation and other offences. She also warned that she would approach higher authorities, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), if adequate action is not taken.
College says accused barred for five years
Responding to the allegations, Soumya Subhra Das, Head of the Media Science Department, told Bhaskar English that disciplinary action had already been initiated against the accused student. He said the student has been barred from entering the college campus for the next five years and will not be included in any official college WhatsApp groups or alumni platforms. Das added that this was the second disciplinary action taken against the accused over complaints related to his conduct.
