Kolkata/Bhubaneswar: A student from Odisha, studying at a private medical college in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district, was raped allegedly by some men on Friday, October 10.
The incident occurred outside the private medical college campus in Durgapur when the second-year student went out with a friend to fetch some food, a police officer said.
The survivor, from Jaleswar in Odisha, is undergoing treatment at the college hospital and gave her statement to the police, an officer said.
An initial probe revealed that the student went outside the campus with her friend around 8-8.30 pm, the officer of New Township Police Station in Durgapur said.
“The friend left her alone when three unidentified men arrived there. They snatched her phone, took her to a jungle, and raped her. She was threatened with dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident,” the officer said.
Three accused sent to police custody
On Sunday, October 12, police arrested three persons and detained another person for their alleged involvement in the gang rape after an FIR was lodged at the New Township police station.
The three have been remanded to 10-day police custody by a subdivisional court in Durgapur. Charges against them include gangrape and criminal conspiracy.
The prosecution lawyer prayed for their police custody for questioning in order to arrest other persons involved in the alleged crime.
The crime spot in a jungle adjacent to the Paranaganj Kali Bari cremation ground has been cordoned off, and massive search operations are being carried out in the villages in and around the private medical college in Durgapur, and drones are also being used to conduct searches in the jungles in the area.
“The three accused were traced through the mobile phone tower dumping method. More people could be involved in the crime, and searches are underway. We are also trying to find out whether these people were known to the survivor or her friend with whom she had gone outside the college. Her friend’s role is also under scrutiny,” a police source said.
The accused persons had used the survivor’s mobile phone to call another accused to the crime spot, he said, adding that it helped them identify the mobile phone numbers of all the accused.
Women should not venture out at night: CM
In her first reaction to the incident, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that “female boarders, especially those from outside the state, should not venture out late at night and follow hostel rules.
“The police have certain logistical limitations in monitoring the movement of every individual. Officers would not know who is leaving home at night and cannot stand guard outside every home,” she told reporters.
Banerjee said that the institution of which the woman is a student of also bears responsibility for the incident. “Private colleges must ensure security within and around their campuses,” she said.
Banerjee said West Bengal has zero tolerance towards crime against women. “Three accused have been arrested and police are conducting searches for others. Nobody will be spared.”
Mamata a ‘blot on womanhood’: BJP
The BJP lashed out at Mamata Banerjee for asking female boarders not to venture out at night, calling her a “blot on womanhood”.
The party accused the Trinamool Congress supremo of “victim shaming and blaming” and said a chief minister who cannot stand with women in their darkest hour has no moral right to govern the state.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia wrote on X, ” Shameless @MamataOfficial a blot on womanhood, even more for being a CM. After RG Kar and Sandeshkhali, now this horrific case of rape and instead of justice, she blames the victim,” he charged.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the law and order has totally collapsed under Mamata Banerjee, who is also the police minister.
“Since last year’s incident at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where an on-duty doctor was gang-raped, there have been several incidents where women were tortured,” Adhikari said.
Bengal BJP activists started a sit-in protest outside the New Township Police Station, demanding the immediate arrest of the criminals.
Meanwhile, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said heinous crimes like rape demand the harshest condemnation and the toughest laws.
“Yet the @narendramodi Govt has chosen delay over duty. More than a year since the Aparajita Anti-Rape Bill was proposed, the @BJP4India at the Centre has done nothing to convert words into law. This is a political choice with deadly consequences,” Banerjee posted on X.
Women and Child Development Minister Sashi Panja called the incident “deeply unfortunate” and said politicising crimes against women is not desirable.
Words twisted, taken out of context: Mamata
Addressing the backlash over her remarks, Mamata Banerjee has stated that her words were ‘twisted’ and ‘taken out of context’.
“My address at Dum Dum Airport has been deliberately distorted. You ask me a question, and when I answer, my words are twisted and taken out of context. Do not try this nasty politics with me. Unlike others, I have the decency to meet you and speak directly. Others merely respond to pre-decided questions.” stated a post on the official page of TMC.
(The story has been updated with the latest information from PTI and a new headline.)
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