Campus rapists used inhaler to revive woman, prolong assault

KOLKATA: Ex-Trinamool Chhatra Parishad office-bearer Monojit Mishra and his two alleged accomplices in the campus gang-rape of a 24-year-old law student used an inhaler to revive the woman when she appeared to lose consciousness so that they could continue the assault, police said during a court hearing Tuesday to illustrate what the prosecution termed their "intent and desperation".

"When the girl became breathless (the survivor mentions in her complaint that she had a panic attack), she was provided the inhaler - not to revive her but to ensure she regained consciousness and they could assault her sexually," public prosecutor Sourin Ghosal told the Alipore court while seeking police custody of the arrested suspects till July 10.

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The court remanded prime suspect Mishra and law students Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee in police custody until July 8. Security guard Pinaki Banerjee, arrested on suspicion of abetting the June 25 crime inside the guardroom, will remain in custody until July 4.

Ghosal argued for extended custody on the ground that the suspects, especially Mishra, were "very influential and may influence the investigation".

If granted bail, they might "terrorise" the survivor and tamper with evidence, he said. Police also informed the court that not only did the medical report of the survivor corroborate her statement, technicaKolkata rape case: Police say attack was 'premeditated'; victim targeted from day one of admissionl evidence collected by the special investigation team and circumstantial proof matched her version of how the crime unfolded.

Also read: Kolkata rape case: Police say attack was 'premeditated'; victim targeted from day one of admission

New evidence presented include CCTV footage from the pharmacy where the inhaler was purchased and the mobile location data of the suspects. Police have questioned six of 17 students present on campus that evening.

Investigators are examining why Mishra called the college vice-principal the day after the assault. They also plan to question the college union's general secretary, who left the survivor alone hours before the attack after promising to return.

According to the FIR, the general secretary was with the survivor from 4pm to 7.30pm after Zaib summoned them, claiming Mishra wanted to discuss something regarding the union. The general secretary then left, saying she would return shortly, but never did.

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Police quoted Zaib and Pramit as telling interrogators that Mishra planned the assault after repeated rejections by the survivor, whom he purportedly wanted to marry.

The college's governing body has expelled Mishra, who worked as a temporary member of the non-teaching staff while practising law. The other two suspects have been barred from all Bengal educational institutions. The college will petition the authorities to revoke Mishra's law licence.

The college's vice-principal said Tuesday that the perpetrators of the crime should be "hanged".