Photo : PTI
A second-year medical student from Odisha was allegedly gang-raped by unidentified men outside her college campus in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district. The incident reportedly took place in Durgapur on Friday night when the 20-year-old student went out for dinner with a friend. The victim, who hails from Jaleswar in Odisha, is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Police said an investigation has been launched based on a complaint filed by the student’s family. “We have started a probe into the incident. The student’s statement has been recorded,” an officer said.
According to the initial investigation, the woman and her friend left the college campus around 8:30 PM. The friend allegedly left her alone for a while, during which three unidentified men appeared, snatched her phone, and took her to a nearby wooded area. “The men raped her and threatened her with dire consequences if she told anyone about it,” the officer said, adding that the accused later demanded money to return her phone.
The victim’s parents arrived in Durgapur on Saturday morning after being informed by her friends. “We came here this morning and lodged a complaint with the police. I heard the college had a good reputation, so we sent our daughter here to study medicine,” her father said.
A forensic team is expected to visit the site to collect evidence, while police are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas. “We also spoke to the victim’s friend last night as part of the inquiry,” the officer added.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sent a team to Durgapur to meet the survivor and her family. “Crimes against women are rising in Bengal, and the police are not taking proactive steps. This is unfortunate. I urge the chief minister to act decisively,” NCW member Archana Majumdar said.
Meanwhile, the state health department has sought a report from the private medical college where the student is enrolled. “We have asked the authorities for a detailed report and will take necessary action accordingly,” a senior official said.
BJP Attacks Mamata Government
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday expressed concern over the gang rape of an Odia student at Durgapur in West Bengal and sought the intervention of Mamata Banerjee, his counterpart in the neighbouring state, in taking action against the culprit.
Taking to X, Majhi said, “The unfortunate incident of gang rape involving an Odia student in Durgapur, West Bengal, is highly condemnable and painful. I am deeply shocked upon hearing this news. In this sensitive matter, I strongly urge the Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal, @MamataOfficial, to take exemplary action against the accused as per the law.”
“Additionally, I have instructed senior officials to contact the West Bengal government and take necessary steps. All possible assistance will be provided to the victim’s family on behalf of the Odisha government,” Majhi said.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday upped the ante against Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government after the incident.
In a social media post on X, BJP leader and Union minister Sukanta Majumdar said that chief minister Mamata Banerjee has turned “West Bengal into a safe haven for rapists and criminals.”
“After the horrific rape of a young woman doctor at R.G. Kar Hospital, yet another horrifying crime has emerged! A second-year medical student at a private medical college in Durgapur has been gang-raped! The survivor, a student from Jaleswar in Odisha, was allegedly abducted while outside the campus and brutally assaulted in a nearby forest,” the Union minister said.
“Under the failed and lawless rule of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal has turned into a nightmare for women’s safety. Across the state — from villages to cities, hospitals to homes — women are unsafe everywhere. The administration’s deliberate policy of appeasement has crippled police investigations, giving violent criminals a free hand. Mamata Banerjee has turned West Bengal into a safe haven for rapists and criminals,” he added.
BJP leader Amit Malviya also attacked Mamata Banerjee, claiming that the incident has triggered a massive outrage in Durgapur. He also shared video of people sloganeering against the Mamata government in Durgapur.
“The memories of the horrific rape and murder of a lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have resurfaced. A second-year medical student from IQ City Medical College and Hospital in Durgapur (West Bengal) was gang-raped in a nearby forest area by Wasif Ali and his associates. The survivor, a resident of Odisha, is currently undergoing treatment, and her statement has been recorded,” Malviya said.
“The brutal crime has triggered massive protests across Durgapur, with people demanding swift justice and accountability from the Mamata Banerjee government. West Bengal is not safe for women,” he added.
“This repeated failure of law and order exposes a disturbing pattern under Mamata Banerjee’s administration. The West Bengal Police must ensure a transparent and impartial investigation, unlike the RG Kar MCH case, which the Kolkata Police mishandled under instructions, so that the guilty face the harshest punishment under the law,” Malviya said in another post on X.
