Incident prompts protests and political reactions regarding women’s safety in West Bengal.
A medical student from Odisha has reportedly been the victim of a gang-rape incident on Friday night in Durgapur, West Bengal. According to reports, the second-year MBBS student was out with a male friend when she was allegedly attacked by a group of men near her college campus.
The local police have taken swift action, arresting three suspects linked to the case and are actively pursuing leads to locate two additional individuals. Authorities are also questioning the male friend who was with the student at the time to gather further details about the incident.
The student’s father recounted that he received a phone call from a friend of his daughter, informing him of the assault. He was urged to travel to Durgapur immediately. Reports indicate that during the attack, the assailants not only assaulted her but also stole her mobile phone and money.
This incident has ignited protests from students at the medical college, who are expressing their outrage and demand for justice. Political figures have also weighed in, with some opposition leaders highlighting the broader implications for women’s safety in West Bengal. Agnimitra Paul, the state Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary, criticized the state government, asserting that women do not feel safe despite having a female chief minister. His comments reflect a growing concern among women in the region regarding their safety.
Mohammed Salim, State President of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), echoed these sentiments, asserting that such crimes are indicative of the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal. He mentioned that party activists have been sent to the hospital to ensure that evidence is preserved and that the investigation remains untainted.
In response to the incident, Shashi Panja, the State Minister for Women and Child Development, provided an update, stating that the student is receiving medical treatment and will also have access to counseling services. Panja noted that the victim’s family has expressed confidence in the police investigation. However, she cautioned against politicizing the incident, suggesting that the opposition often interprets such events through a political lens.
This case is not isolated; it follows a pattern of similar incidents in the region. Just last month, a student was reportedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata, which led to the arrest of three men. Additionally, a tragic case last year involved the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, which spurred nationwide protests. In that case, a civic police volunteer was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The ongoing discussions and protests surrounding this latest incident highlight the urgent need for improved safety measures for women in West Bengal and a commitment to addressing the root causes of such violence.