Murder charges pressed in Jadavpur University student’s death case, say police

Anamika’s father Arnab Mondal (49) filed a complaint at the Jadavpur police station on Monday afternoon, alleging she did not fall into the pond by accident. “Police should scan her mobile phone to find out who she spoke to that day,” he said.

The case was registered under sections 103(1) (punishment for murder), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Also, the investigation in the case has been taken up by the Homicide Squad of the Detective Department.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bidisha Kalita confirmed that a murder case was registered based on the father’s complaint.

“As per the complainant, some unknown persons hatched a criminal conspiracy and committed murder of Anamika Mondal by pushing her into the pond at Jadavpur University. Investigation of the case is in progress,” said police.

Police had initially registered a case of unnatural death taking suo motu cognisance of the incident.Police have taken the victim’s mobile phone in their possession and summoned her friends for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation. The incident occurred during a drama club programme on the campus.

The initial post-mortem report had stated drowning as the cause of death.

CCTV footage from the campus has been collected, and a forensic team has visited the spot. Samples have also been sent for viscera testing.

On Saturday, the National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognisance of the matter and sought a report from the university authorities and the Kolkata Police Commissioner within three days. NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar wrote to the Police Commissioner, seeking a thorough investigation, forensic examination, and post-mortem report.

Archana Majumdar, an NCW member, had said, “The commission is anxious about what is happening in West Bengal. No child is safe there. Parents send their children for studies, and they come home dead. We will visit the university for inspection, we will also visit the deceased girl’s family and the JU authorities,” she said.