In a significant development in the Durgapur gangrape case, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were stopped by the police on Sunday from meeting the medical student who is the survivor of the alleged assault. The incident has escalated political tensions in West Bengal, with the opposition accusing the state government of obstructing justice and protecting the accused.
Confrontation at the Hospital Gates
The BJP delegation, which included prominent leaders, found the gates of the hospital closed and were prevented from proceeding further by police personnel. A confrontation ensued, with the leaders demanding to know the reason for being barred from meeting the survivor. Among the visitors was BJP leader Locket Chatterjee, who expressed deep suspicion over the probe being conducted by the state government.
Chatterjee drew parallels with a previous case, stating, "If any new incident occurs, the criminal will be let off again... You saw how millions of people took to the streets over the rape-murder case at RG Kar College and Hospital, but nothing happened. After that, it was handed over to the CBI. Without evidence, what can the CBI do... so the same will happen here too." Her comments highlight a pervasive lack of faith in the state's investigative process.
Mamata Banerjee's Controversial Statement Ignites Firestorm
The political drama intensified following controversial remarks by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. While addressing the media, Banerjee suggested that girls should "protect themselves" and "should not be allowed to go outside (college) at night." She referenced the location of the incident, saying, "There is a forest area... How did she come out at 12.30am?"
These comments triggered immediate and severe backlash from the BJP and civil society. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul launched a scathing attack, comparing Banerjee's administration to the Taliban government in Afghanistan. "We have a Taliban government in Afghanistan and we have Mamata Banerjee's government in West Bengal," Paul stated. She contested the Chief Minister's timeline, citing CCTV footage that reportedly shows the victim going out to fetch food around 8 PM, not after midnight.
Paul further argued, "After 12 am, women shouldn't go out? Doctors who are doing night duty in hospitals shouldn't go out?... This kind of Taliban mentality is shameful. Actually, you have always been protecting the rapists and cursing the victims." She alleged that the accused, being TMC cadres, are being shielded for political gains in the upcoming elections.
Current Status of the Case and Family's Anguish
On the legal front, all three accused in the gang rape case have been remanded to ten days' police custody. The victim, a second-year MBBS student at a private medical college in Durgapur, hails from Jaleswar in Odisha. The trauma has extended to her family, with her father expressing fear for her safety in Bengal and urging authorities to facilitate her transfer to a college in Odisha.
The case has once again brought issues of women's safety, political blame games, and the efficacy of investigations in West Bengal to the forefront. As the police custody of the accused continues, the nation watches closely to see if this case will follow a path of justice or become another statistic in the long list of politicized crimes.
