Polling Booths Relocated from Kolkata Law College Following Campus Rape Case
In a significant change to election arrangements, polling booths that were traditionally located on a south Kolkata law college campus have been permanently shifted to a nearby private school. This decision comes nearly a year after a disturbing rape incident occurred on the college premises in June 2025, fundamentally altering how the institution is utilized during elections.
Security and Space Constraints Force Election Commission's Hand
The Election Commission of India made this substantial adjustment for the upcoming polls based on recommendations from local police authorities. Previously, polling stations for parts 131, 132, and 135 under the Kasba assembly constituency were consistently established within the college buildings. However, the ongoing investigation into the campus rape case has rendered key ground floor areas completely inaccessible.
College officials confirmed that two rooms previously designated as polling booths remain sealed as evidence in the criminal investigation. With court proceedings still active, these restricted zones cannot be utilized for any purpose, including electoral activities. The institution simply lacks sufficient functional space on the ground floor to accommodate voting infrastructure and procedures safely.
College Transformed into Central Forces Base During Elections
Instead of serving voters, the college campus has been repurposed as temporary accommodation for Central Armed Police Forces personnel deployed for election security duties. According to Vice-Principal Nayna Chatterji, the entire institute will remain closed throughout the election period, with academic classes transitioning to online platforms.
"Movement on the premises has been strictly restricted until authorities return control to us," Chatterji explained. "Most floors are currently occupied by central forces, and entry requires proper identification. We have informed the court about their presence and the installation of temporary toilet facilities on the ground floor."
The vice-principal emphasized that cordoned-off areas related to the crime scene remain completely off-limits, with security personnel receiving explicit instructions to avoid those specific sections of the campus.
Background: The June 2025 Campus Rape Incident
The triggering event occurred on the evening of June 25, 2025, when a rape was reported inside a guard's room adjacent to the boys' common room, which also functioned as the student union office. Forensic teams immediately sealed the crime scene for detailed investigation, and a formal complaint was registered at Kasba Police Station.
Since the incident, the case has been under active consideration at the Calcutta High Court, with the restricted areas maintained as evidence. The college's ground floor, where the crime occurred, continues to be cordoned off with police barriers, preventing any access or utilization of those spaces.
This relocation of polling booths marks the first electoral arrangement change since the traumatic incident, reflecting how serious crimes can permanently alter institutional functions and community infrastructure. The decision demonstrates election authorities' responsiveness to security concerns and practical constraints arising from ongoing legal proceedings.
