Bengal BJP Chief Sukanta Majumdar Detained During Protest Over Kolkata Law Student Gang-Rape

Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar was detained by Kolkata Police on Saturday while leading a protest against the alleged gang-rape of a law student in the city.

Majumdar, in a post on X, claimed that he and other BJP leaders were detained at Gariahat crossing in south Kolkata “on the orders of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.” The protest was staged against the alleged involvement of a Trinamool Congress (TMC)-linked student leader, Manojit Mishra, in the rape of a first-year student at South Calcutta Law College.

“When we protested against the gangrape by TMC-appointed student leader Manojit Mishra and his aides, we were unjustly arrested by the Kolkata Police,” Majumdar wrote. A video posted by ANI showed him being escorted into a police vehicle.

Speaking to reporters, Majumdar said, “This is the current state of democracy in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee has completely destroyed it.”

Background of the Case

The protest follows a shocking incident in which a law student was allegedly raped on campus earlier this week. Three people, including Mishra — a non-teaching staffer and alumnus of the college — and a security guard, have been arrested in connection with the crime.

BJP-TMC Clash Over Accused’s Political Links

The BJP has alleged that Mishra and others involved have direct ties to the ruling TMC’s student wing. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed Mishra formerly held a key position in the student union of the TMC. The Trinamool Congress has denied any official link to the accused.

Patra also announced that BJP national president J.P. Nadda has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to visit West Bengal and report on the incident. The panel includes MPs Biplab Kumar Deb and Manan Kumar Mishra, and former parliamentarians Satyapal Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi.