West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Questions Durgapur Rape Survivor's Late-Night Campus Exit, Sparks Controversy

Mamata Banerjee has questioned how the gang rape survivor in Durgapur left the campus at night

In shocking remarks following an MBBS student's gang rape in West Bengal's Durgapur, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attempted to shift responsibility for student security to private colleges and questioned why the 23-year-old victim was outside campus late at night. These comments have provoked strong criticism, with the BJP accusing the Chief Minister of victim blaming.

"She was studying in a private medical college. Whose responsibility is it? How did she come out at 12.30 at night?" Banerjee remarked in her first public statement after the incident. The Chief Minister described the event as "shocking" and stated that Bengal police were taking all necessary measures.

She insisted that private medical colleges should take responsibility for their students and monitor "culture at night." "They should not be allowed to come out. They have to protect themselves. It is a forest area," Banerjee stated.

Redirecting attention to the BJP government in Odisha, Banerjee referenced sexual assault cases in the neighboring state. "In Odisha, girls were raped on sea beaches. What action has been taken by the Odisha government?" she asked.

The Chief Minister assured that the perpetrators would face punishment. "We will take stringent action. When it happens in other states, it is condemnable. Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha have seen so many (such cases). We think the governments there should take stringent action."

The BJP criticized the Bengal Chief Minister for allegedly blaming the victim rather than ensuring justice. "Shameless @MamataOfficial a blot on womanhood, even more for being a CM. After RG Kar and Sandeshkhali, now this horrific case and instead of justice, she blames the victim!" BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia posted on X.

"A Chief Minister who tells girls not to go out at night, rather than ensuring their safety, has no moral right to stay in office. People now realise they have reposed faith in an anarchist, heartless Mamata. She must resign and be held accountable under law."

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Bengal Chief Minister of blaming the victim while defending perpetrators. "Time & again: RG Kar, Sandeshkhali, Park Street - this has been done," Poonawalla said, referencing Banerjee's controversial past statements. "Will the outrage lobby who was shouting yesterday - Supriya Shrinate, Priyanka Vadra, Rahul Gandhi etc open their mouths now?" he questioned.

The second-year student from Jaleswar, Odisha, has been studying MBBS at a private medical college in Durgapur. On Friday night, she was out with a friend when they were approached by several men. The assailants forcibly took the woman to a secluded location and raped her.

Devastated by the incident, the victim's father expressed his intention to return with her to Odisha, citing concerns about her safety in Bengal.

"My daughter is in pain. She can't walk right now. She is bedridden. I am concerned about her safety here. They could kill her here any moment. That's why we want to take her back to Odisha. Trust has been lost. We don't want her to stay in Bengal. She will pursue her education in Odisha," the distraught father stated.

He mentioned that Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi had contacted him. "The Odisha Chief Minister has spoken to me. The administration is helping us," he said, adding that he requested his daughter be admitted to an Odisha medical college.

Three suspects have been arrested, and one is detained in connection with the crime. The arrested individuals have been identified as Apu Bauri (21), Firdos Sekh (23), and Sekh Reajuddin (31). The male friend who was with the survivor is also under investigation, according to police sources.

West Bengal police expressed being "deeply saddened" by the incident and assured that the perpetrators would be punished. "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," they stated on X.

Odisha Chief Minister Manjhi called the incident "highly condemnable and painful." "I strongly urge the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, to take exemplary action against the accused as per the law. I have instructed senior officials to contact the West Bengal government and take necessary steps. The Odisha government will provide all possible assistance to the victim's family."

The Durgapur incident occurs approximately one year after the brutal rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and months following the rape of a student at a law college in Kolkata.