Mamata condemns Durgapur gang rape, orders strict action
The Statesman | 13 October 2025“The incident is absolutely condemnable,” Miss Banerjee told reporters at the Kolkata airport. “But how did students go out of the hostel so late at night? There must be a system in the hostel. Private medical colleges also have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their students. The police cannot sit outside every house.” The Chief Minister’s remarks came two days after the shocking incident in which a second-year MBBS student from Odisha was allegedly gangraped near her private medical college in Durgapur. The student had reportedly gone out with a male classmate late on Friday night when she was allegedly dragged into the nearby jungle and assaulted by a group of men.
Police have so far arrested three people and detained the male classmate for questioning. Investigators suspect that he may have had prior knowledge, and are probing his role closely. The police deployed drones to assist in combing operations around the crime site and to trace any other suspects who may have fled the area. Miss Banerjee said she had instructed the police to take uncompromising action. “I have told the police to ensure that no offender is spared. Those responsible must face the harshest punishment,” she said. The CM also used the occasion to draw comparisons with incidents of violence against women in BJP-ruled states.
“When atrocities happen in places like Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar or Odisha, what action is taken there?” she asked. “In some states, rape survivors are burnt alive before they can even reach the court. Journalists are stripped and jailed. We do not support any such incident. In Bengal, there is zero tolerance for crimes against women.” Miss Banerjee further appealed to students, particularly those from other states, to exercise caution and not venture out late at night. “Many students from different states study here. I urge them not to go out at night unnecessarily. The college authorities must ensure proper safety arrangements,” she said.
