A second-year MBBS student at a private medical college in Durgapur, West Bengal, was allegedly gang-raped by four to five unidentified men on Friday night. The 23-year-old survivor, originally from Balasore in Odisha, was attacked shortly after she stepped out for dinner with a male classmate.
Sequence of Events and Police Action
Based on the woman's complaint, police have registered a case of gang rape and recorded her detailed statement. The survivor recounted that she and her classmate were accosted by a group of men who snatched her phone and demanded money. According to her account, when the male student left the spot, three of the assailants dragged her to a secluded area and raped her. The classmate later returned, found her wounded, and took her back to their hostel.
Police have detained the male classmate for questioning after the survivor's parents, who rushed to Durgapur from Odisha early Saturday, alleged his involvement. The young woman is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Outrage and Political Fallout
The incident has triggered massive outrage on the college campus, with students launching a sit-in protest to demand an impartial and speedy investigation. "We want the principal to issue a written statement," one protester said, highlighting the demand for institutional accountability.
The case quickly took a political turn, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharpening its attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar posted on X, formerly Twitter, alleging, "Mamata has turned Bengal into a safe haven for rapists and criminals." BJP's IT cell head, Amit Malviya, also criticized the state government, claiming the incident has caused widespread anger and asserting that Bengal is unsafe for women until the TMC government is held accountable.
A Troubling Pattern and Demands for Justice
This alleged assault adds to a series of disturbing incidents of sexual violence reported on educational campuses across West Bengal. The college administration, in a press release, acknowledged the incident vaguely, stating it "came to light that while outside campus, the female student endured an as self claimed and reported."
The survivor's father, who received the initial call from her classmate, has voiced deep suspicion about the classmate's role in the entire episode. The community and student bodies are now pressing for a transparent investigation to ensure justice is served and to address the broader issue of women's safety in the state.
