A shocking case has come to light at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, as a female student alleged that she was raped by a second-year male student within the boys' hostel.
The Haridevpur police have arrested the accused after the survivor lodged a formal complaint on Friday.
This purported attack has come mere two weeks after a gang-rape had been reported at the South Calcutta Law College, again sounding a warning about the safety of campuses in top educational institutions.
The complainant informed police sources that she had been invited to the hostel on the pretext of being counseled during a counseling session. On arrival, she was served food and drinks, after which she allegedly lost consciousness. She awoke to find herself in the hostel room and accused the suspect of sexually assaulting her. The complainant also accused the suspect of threatening her with dire consequences if she made the details public.
After being able to leave the hostel compound, the survivor proceeded straight to the Thakurpukur police station to file a report. She was then redirected to the Haridevpur police station for follow-up.
Accounts indicate that police picked up a male student from the hostel on that same night. But officials have made clear that the identity of the prime suspect is still being verified.
Initial indications are that the victim and the accused first met through social networking. After a personal falling out with another friend, she contacted the accused for advice. He offered to chat things out on campus. While she came accompanied by a mutual friend, the accused supposedly asked to speak one-on-one and took her to an unoccupied hostel room, where the assault is reported to have occurred.
The police authorities are now going through the video surveillance and interviewing students to know more about the incident. There are also queries being raised regarding the security measures followed by the hostel. The survivor's and other witnesses' statements are being recorded, while the administration of IIM Calcutta is kept in the know. The institution has not made any official statement so far.
This incident has renewed fears about the safety and welfare of students in academic institutions. Fellow students and the survivor have demanded a comprehensive, objective, and prompt inquiry into the incident.
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