Kolkata Gang-Rape: Key Evidence Seized, Including Hockey Stick and Suspects' Clothes

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the alleged gang-rape of a law student in Kolkata has made significant progress, seizing crucial physical evidence. This includes a hockey stick reportedly used during the assault, blood-stained benches, and clothing worn by both the survivor and the accused.

Police confirmed on Sunday the recovery of the hockey stick belonging to the former Trinamool Chhatra Parishad union president, the prime suspect in the case. This stick was allegedly used to assault the 24-year-old law student last Wednesday night. Additionally, police seized a red kurta, light brown six-pocket trousers, and black shorts belonging to the main suspect from his home in Kalighat. Clothes belonging to the other two suspects were also recovered from their residences in Tiljala and Howrah.

Forensic Evidence and Survivor's Account

Forensic teams have retrieved hair strands from the guard room floor where the crime took place. Investigators believe these strands are evidence of the survivor's struggle. In her complaint, she stated, "I just lay like a dead body."

Police also announced on Sunday that DNA samples have been obtained from all three suspects.

Damning Video Evidence

Perhaps the most damning evidence comes from the prime suspect's phone. Co-defendants Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee, both law students, allegedly recorded the assault on the orders of the main suspect, ensuring the survivor's face was visible. These videos have been sent to a cyber forensics lab in Salt Lake, Kolkata, for validation. This footage is expected to contradict the main suspect's claims of "consensual sex" and an alleged assault by the woman after she rejected his "pornographic marriage proposal."

CCTV Footage Corroborates Victim's Story

CCTV footage from Wednesday, between 7:30 PM and 10:50 PM, corroborates the victim's account. The cameras captured her attempting to flee to the main campus gate but being dragged back into the guard room. The footage also showed the color of the main suspect's kurta, matching the one seized from his residence. Based on the CCTV footage, investigators have identified 25 students on campus that day, with seven present in the union room ten minutes before the incident.

Police have contacted the south Kolkata law college authorities to obtain the names, phone numbers, and addresses of these 25 students.

Broader Implications of Suspect's Phone

Beyond the immediate assault, the main suspect's phone has revealed a disturbing trove of manipulated photographs of female students, with their faces edited onto pornographic images, which had been circulated on WhatsApp groups.

Ongoing Investigation

The nine-member SIT, led by an assistant commissioner rank officer, spent Sunday at Pramit Mukherjee's home in Howrah, searching his computer for further videos. Despite protests from neighbors, the team, including four additional sub-inspectors and a woman officer, remained for two hours. The findings from this search are yet to be revealed. A relative of the survivor's family has expressed satisfaction with the investigation thus far and expects a speedy trial.