Fact Check: Medical Student Gang-Raped at 8 PM, Not 12:30 AM as Claimed by West Bengal Chief Minister

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been contradicted by facts in the Durgapur medical student gang rape case after suggesting the victim left campus at midnight.

NDTV's investigation has revealed that contrary to the Chief Minister's claim, the 23-year-old MBBS student from Odisha was assaulted around 8 pm while out with a college friend. This information comes directly from the complaint filed by the victim's father, which formed the basis for the official police investigation.

The Chief Minister had earlier attempted to deflect responsibility onto private educational institutions, questioning why the student was allowed outside at late hours. "She was studying in a private medical college. Whose responsibility is it? How did she come out at 12.30 at night?" Banerjee remarked, adding that private colleges should monitor student movements, especially "at night," stating, "They should not be allowed to come out. They have to protect themselves. It is a forest area."

These comments have ignited significant backlash, with critics accusing Banerjee of victim-blaming and attempting to evade governmental responsibility for ensuring public safety.

BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul strongly condemned the Chief Minister's statements, asserting they were factually incorrect as the student was merely purchasing food at 8 pm when the incident occurred. Paul drew a controversial comparison, stating, "Like Afghanistan, West Bengal too has a Taliban government under Mamata Banerjee's leadership." She questioned whether the Chief Minister was suggesting women should face assault for being outside after certain hours.

CPM state secretary Mohammed Salim similarly criticized the administration's approach, referencing the RG Kar case where investigations allegedly protected perpetrators. Salim highlighted that this mindset contradicts Bengal's progressive social reform traditions established by historical figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Vidyasagar, who championed gender equality.

Facing mounting criticism, Chief Minister Banerjee has accused media outlets of misrepresenting her statements. "The media distorted my words. You ask me a question, I answer it, and then you distort it. Do not try this kind of politics," she insisted.