Kolkata: In a significant development in the gang rape investigation involving a 24-year-old student from South Calcutta Law College, police have obtained CCTV footage from the college premises that they say confirms the survivor’s claims. “The CCTV footage confirms the girl’s allegations. It shows the movements of the three accused, the security guard, and the victim. We are currently examining the footage,” police told news agency PTI on Saturday.
The footage, spanning over seven hours, from 3:30 PM to 10:50 PM on June 25, allegedly captures critical moments leading up to the incident, including the victim being dragged and forced into the guard’s room. According to investigators, this visual evidence could prove pivotal in the ongoing case.
The complainant, a first-year student, has accused three individuals, two senior students and a former student, of sexually assaulting her inside the college campus on June 25. Police have since made four arrests, including the college’s security guard. Evidence collected from multiple campus locations, including the guard’s room, the washroom, and the students’ union room, includes strands of hair, bottles containing unidentified substances, and a hockey stick.
“There are clear signs of a struggle in all three rooms. The samples have been sent for forensic examination,” said a police officer involved in the probe. The security guard, initially detained for questioning, was later taken into custody after investigators reviewed the footage and found inconsistencies in his statements.
“The security guard was arrested this morning after we found that his replies were incoherent. His presence at the college has been captured in the CCTV installed on the college premises,” the officer added. A five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by an officer of assistant commissioner rank, has been formed to handle the case. Meanwhile, public outrage continues to build over the incident, with growing demands for swift justice.