Odisha Medical Student Gang-Raped Near Durgapur College: Investigation Underway

A second-year MBBS student from Odisha has been gang-raped near a private medical college in West Bengal's Durgapur on Friday evening.

According to officials, the 23-year-old student from Jaleswar in Odisha, who studies at IQ City Medical College in Durgapur's Shivapur area, had gone out with a male friend when they were accosted by several men near the college gate around 8:30 PM. The assailants took the woman to a nearby wooded area and raped her. The victim's father reported that her friend fled the scene, raising suspicions about his possible involvement in the incident.

In the police complaint, the survivor's father stated that her friend "misled her and took her to a vacant place under false pretexts." He added that the attackers also stole her mobile phone and took Rs 5,000 from her.

The student was subsequently admitted to a hospital in Durgapur, where her condition is reported to be critical.

Officials confirmed on Saturday that an investigation has been launched, with several individuals being questioned, including the survivor's friend. While the survivor's statement has been recorded, no arrests have been made so far.

The West Bengal police issued a statement assuring that the perpetrators would face justice: "We are deeply saddened by the sexual assault on a medical student from Odisha in Durgapur, and wish to assure all that the culprits shall not go unpunished. The pain of the victim is as much ours as it is Odisha's, and we shall leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice. The victim is recovering well and all kinds of assistance are being provided to the family."

The police statement also urged the public to "refrain from sharing any unverified information" regarding the case, emphasizing their "zero tolerance policy in respect of offences against women."

West Bengal Minister for Women and Child Development and Trinamool Congress leader Shashi Panja stated that the student is receiving medical treatment and will also be provided psychological counseling.

"The parents have expressed faith in the police investigation. Such crimes should not be politicized. Unfortunately, the BJP always views such incidents through a political lens," she commented following protests by the local BJP unit in Durgapur.

According to PTI, the state health department has requested a report from the college, and a team from the National Commission for Women (NCW) is traveling to Durgapur to meet with the survivor and her parents.

NCW member Archana Majumdar expressed concern: "Crime against women is on the rise in Bengal. The police are not taking any proactive steps in such cases. This is quite unfortunate. I will request the chief minister to come forward and work in tandem to arrest the rise of such crimes."

The Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal has faced criticism over women's safety in the state, particularly following two rape cases on college campuses in Kolkata.

In July, a law student was allegedly gang-raped on the premises of the South Calcutta Law College in Kolkata's Kasba area, resulting in the arrest of a former student with alleged political connections, two current students, and a security guard.

Last August, the rape and murder of a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata triggered widespread protests across the state and throughout India. A civic police volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was subsequently arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.