Mamata Banerjee Questions Survivor’s Late-Night Movements in Durgapur Medical College Assault Case

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made controversial remarks on Sunday regarding the alleged gang rape of a medical student in Durgapur. Speaking at a press briefing, Banerjee questioned why the survivor was outside the private medical college campus at around 12:30 am, the time when the incident reportedly took place.

This statement drew criticism because the survivor’s parents said the incident happened before 10 pm on Friday. According to the police, the second-year medical student, originally from Jaleswar in Odisha, was attacked outside the campus when she went out with a friend for dinner.

Banerjee expressed her shock over the incident but also called on private medical colleges to take more responsibility for their students, especially female students. She questioned how students were allowed to leave the campus late at night and emphasized that girls should not be allowed to go out at such hours. “They have to protect themselves also,” she added, stressing the need for colleges to ensure student safety.

The student’s parents, who rushed to Durgapur after being informed by her classmates late on Friday, said they were told about the incident around 9:30 pm. They named the friend she had gone out with and some associates in their police complaint but could not identify all the individuals involved.

In a statement quoted by the media, the father said they received a call from the victim’s classmates warning them to come immediately. They reached the campus on Saturday morning, where their daughter was admitted to the hospital and was not well. He also said the attackers demanded money to return her mobile phone.

The mother shared chilling details of the attack. She said her daughter had gone out to eat at her friend’s request but was soon followed by three men. Her friend apparently fled, leaving her alone. When the men caught up, they took her to a nearby forested area where two more men joined them. One of the men assaulted her, took her phone, and threatened to kill her if she tried to call out for help.

The police are continuing their investigation, but Mamata Banerjee’s comments have sparked debate, with many feeling that the focus should be on the perpetrators and institutional safety rather than questioning the victim’s actions.