Late Friday evening in Durgapur, West Bengal, a second‑year MBBS student from Odisha was attacked and gang raped near her private medical college campus after stepping out for dinner with a male classmate. The assailants snatched her mobile phone, dragged her behind the campus into a forested area, and assaulted her. After the incident, the student filed a police complaint and received medical care.
Four suspects from the nearby village, including a hospital staffer, were arrested, while a fifth remains under investigation. Police tracked the accused using the location of the stolen phone and seized the motorbike used to escape the scene. Several other individuals, including the student’s classmate, were detained for questioning about possible involvement, and forensics teams collected evidence from the crime site.
Security footage confirmed the student and her friend leaving campus around 8 PM. The attackers threatened her if she revealed anything and demanded payment to return her phone. The incident sparked widespread outrage and protests among students on campus, who demanded accountability from the authorities for failing to ensure safety.
Political tensions surfaced due to statements made about student safety; some leaders questioned why the student was outside at night, which drew criticism for victim-blaming. The survivor’s family requested she be allowed to transfer and complete her studies elsewhere, expressing concerns for her safety. Calls are growing for a thorough investigation and for schools to implement robust protections for students.
The case stirred strong protests at the college and criticism over campus safety failures. Political controversy escalated after comments on why the student was out at night, sparking public outrage and accusations of victim-blaming. The survivor’s parents asked for her transfer out of Durgapur, citing insecurity, while demands are mounting for an impartial, victim-centred investigation and stricter campus protections.
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