A horrific incident of sexual violence has shaken the medical community in Durgapur, West Bengal. A 23-year-old second-year MBBS student was allegedly gang-raped by a group of four to five unidentified men on Friday evening. The assault occurred just outside her private medical college campus, plunging the institute into turmoil and sparking widespread outrage.
The Timeline of a Nightmare
According to the official complaint and a press release from the college, the sequence of events is chilling. The survivor, along with a male classmate, left the campus at 7:58 PM for dinner. CCTV footage shows the male student returning briefly at 8:42 PM, only to step out again at 8:48 PM. The tragic assault took place between 8:30 PM and 9:00 PM in a desolate area approximately 1.5 kilometers from the college.
The duo was reportedly accosted by the group of men who snatched the girl's mobile phone and demanded money. Sources indicate that when the male student left the spot, purportedly to arrange cash, three of the assailants dragged the young woman to a secluded spot and gang-raped her. The classmate later returned, found her in a critical condition, and helped her back to the hostel by 9:29 PM.
Aftermath and a Father's Anguish
The survivor, who hails from Balasore in Odisha, is currently hospitalized. Her ordeal came to light after she began bleeding severely at night and was shifted to a hospital. Her parents, who reached Durgapur by 5:30 AM on Saturday, were devastated. "It was a mistake to send my daughter here to study MBBS. This incident has caused her extreme mental and physical trauma," her father stated.
He expressed deep suspicion about the classmate's role, alleging that his daughter was taken out for 'phuchka' and then left alone. The male classmate has been detained by the police for questioning based on the parents' allegations that he and his associates were behind the crime. The police have registered a case of gang rape under relevant sections and are investigating.
Political Fallout and Student Protests
The incident has triggered strong reactions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a controversial statement, suggesting, 'Girls should not be allowed to go outside at night,' which drew immediate criticism for victim-blaming. Meanwhile, students of the medical college have begun a sit-in demonstration, demanding an impartial and swift probe into the matter.
The college administration, in its press note, confirmed that the female student "endured an assault, an occurrence she herself claimed and reported." As the survivor fights for recovery, the demand for justice grows louder, highlighting urgent concerns about the safety of women, especially students, in and around educational campuses.
