Girls should not be allowed to step outside the college campus in the night and it is their responsibility too to protect themselves, said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while speaking on the alleged gangrape of an MBBS student in Durgapur. She said the girls must be aware of this and must not leave hostels in the night. The CM added that the guilty will not be spared, adding that the incident is as condemnable as any similar cases that happen in any other state. 

“… The girls should not be allowed to go outside (college) at night. They have to protect themselves also. There is a forest area. Police are searching all the people. Nobody will be excused. Whoever is guilty will be punished strictly. Three people have already been arrested,” Mamata said on the incident. 

On the criticism from the opposition on the incident, she said that similar incidents happen in other states as well. “We will take stringent action… When it happens in other states, it is also condemnable. Such incidents have taken place in Manipur, UP, Bihar, Odisha; we also think the government must take stringent action there.”

“In our state, we charge-sheeted the people within 1-2 months, and the lower court gave the order to hang the accused,” she added.

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‘How did she come out at 12.30 AM?’

Launching a scathing attack at the private college, the CM asked how the girl was able to go out in the night at 12.30 am. She also mentioned a rape case in Odisha and asked what the BJP government there has done in the case. Notably, the survivor in the Bengal rape case is from Odisha.

“This is a private college. Three weeks ago, three girls were raped on the beach in Odisha. What action is being taken by the Odisha government?… The girl was studying in a private medical college. How did she come out at 12.30 AM?” Mamata said.

“As far as I know, the incident took place in the forest area. I do not know what happened. The investigation is on. I’m shocked to see the incident, but private medical colleges also should take care of their students, and especially girls…” she added.

Durgapur rape case

The girl, a second year MBBS student, was out with friends for dinner on Saturday. She was then allegedly raped by some men in Durgapur, outside the campus in a forest area, police said. 

So far, the cops have arrested three accused in the alleged gangrape case and took them to the Court on Sunday. Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate DCP Abhishek Gupta said that the investigation was being carried out according to the protocol.