Durgapur Rape Case Sparks Controversy as Chief Minister Blames College
DURGAPUR, West Bengal – A recent gang rape of a second-year MBBS student at a private medical college in Durgapur has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee drawing criticism for seemingly blaming the college for the incident. The alleged gang rape occurred on Friday night when the 23-year-old student, originally from Odisha, stepped out of the IQ City Medical College campus with a male friend.
According to reports, the student and her friend were allegedly accosted by a group of men in a nearby forested area. The men allegedly dragged her into the woods and sexually assaulted her. The survivor's friend reportedly fled the scene during the assault but later returned to take her to the hospital.
In her initial reaction to the crime, Chief Minister Banerjee stated that it was "shocking" that the college allowed the student to leave the campus, which she described as being "located in a forested area," past midnight. She questioned the college's responsibility in ensuring the safety of its students, particularly women, and suggested that they should not be allowed to venture out at night. "How did they (the girl and a male friend) come out of the campus at 12.30 am? Wasn't it the responsibility of the college? I don't know why they were allowed to leave at that hour," she said. She further urged students from other states to be cautious and avoid going out late at night in unfamiliar, forested areas.
Banerjee's remarks have been met with widespread criticism, with many accusing her of victim-blaming and deflecting responsibility from the perpetrators of the crime. Critics argue that her comments imply that the college, and indirectly the victim herself, were at fault for the assault, rather than focusing on the actions of the accused.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has seized on the incident to attack Banerjee's government, alleging a breakdown of law and order in the state. BJP leaders have vowed to launch statewide protests to demand justice for the victim and to highlight what they claim is a lack of safety for women in West Bengal. The Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has spoken with the victim's family and promised them assistance in seeking justice. The Trinamool Congress, in turn, has accused the BJP of politicizing the Durgapur incident.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested three suspects in connection with the gang rape and are interrogating the victim's male friend. Chief Minister Banerjee has assured that no one linked to the crime will be spared and that the guilty will be strictly punished. She also stated that West Bengal has a "zero-tolerance policy" on crimes against women and highlighted the state's record of filing charge sheets in sexual assault cases within two months.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken cognizance of the case and is reviewing CCTV footage and security lapses on the college campus as part of the ongoing probe. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of students, particularly women, in educational institutions and the need for stricter measures to prevent such crimes. It also has reignited the debate surrounding victim blaming in cases of sexual assault and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
