WB: Medical Student’s Rape Ignites Political Firestorm
The brutal sexual assault of a second-year MBBS student in Durgapur, West Bengal, has sparked a severe political backlash against the state administration. The outrage stems not only from the gravity of the crime but primarily from the Chief Minister’s subsequent comments, which suggested that girls should avoid staying out late. While five local men, some with clear ties to Trinamool, were initially arrested, the investigation has intensified, and the role of the victim’s male companion is also being questioned.
According to initial reports, on the evening of October 11, a horrific attack occurred near IQ City Medical College. The victim, a student from Jaleswar, Odisha, had left the college's West Gate with a fellow student, Wasif Ali, to get dinner. This route, a road flanked by dense jungle and scrubland, leads to the Paranganj Kalipara crematorium.
As they walked, five assailants confronted them. The student was forcibly dragged into the scrubland while Wasif Ali initially fled. The attackers sexually assaulted the student and stole her mobile phone, returning it only after demanding Rs 3,000. They threatened her with dire consequences if she reported the crime.
Local police confirmed that this area is frequently used by anti-social elements and drug users. This incident raises serious questions about the lack of regular police patrolling in the area in particular and the ever-growing number of cases of violence against women under TMC rule.
CM’s Remarks Fuel Outrage
Public outrage reached fever pitch following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s public comments on October 12. The Chief Minister initially questioned, "How did she go out at 12:30 AM?" and went on to suggest that "girls should not be allowed to go out late at night," especially in isolated areas, placing some responsibility on private colleges.
This statement was immediately contested by opposition parties and college authorities, who disputed the "midnight" timeline. Police investigations, corroborated by CCTV footage, subsequently revealed that the student and her companion had left campus at 7:58 PM and returned at 9:29 PM, directly contradicting the Chief Minister's claims. Critics from across the political spectrum condemned her comments as an attempt to deflect from security failures and avoid government accountability for maintaining law and order and ensuring women's safety.
The response from women’s rights and medical organizations was immediate and scathing. The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) labeled the CM's stance as anti-freedom and regressive, drawing parallels to the restrictive ideology of fundamentalist organizations like the RSS. State Secretary Kaninika Ghosh called the statement a "profound betrayal of women's constitutional rights," arguing that "Curfew on freedom is not a security solution; robust law enforcement is." AIDWA launched sustained day and night protests, demanding women's constitutional right to safety and liberty be the same "morning and night." The Association of Health Service Doctors (AHSD) expressed shock and demanded an immediate, transparent judicial inquiry led by a retired judge. They warned against any attempt to "shelter the actual culprits or delay the investigation." Dr. Utpal Bandopadhyay of the Abhaya Mancha Movement stated that the "sheer impunity" reflects an "institutional rape culture" being normalized. He argued that the CM's "regressive statements" reinforce the belief among criminals that the administration will shield them and demanded the immediate removal of all investigating officers currently in question to ensure impartiality.
Family's Distrust
Following intensive questioning and crime scene reconstruction, police apprehended Wasif Ali, the male co-student of the victim. Although the Police Commissioner confirmed that only one of the six accused physically committed the sexual assault, Wasif Ali was charged under the same sections as the five primary suspects. This decision was based on his role not being "beyond doubt" concerning joint criminal liability and extortion.
The victim's parents, arriving from Jaleswar, Odisha, expressed deep fear and mistrust. The father formally requested a Transfer Certificate (TC), stating, "Our daughter is not safe here. We will take her home and she will no longer study here." He also demanded a central agency investigation.
Protesting organisations collectively called for the government to take decisive action to guarantee "complete safety and freedom for all, day and night." They emphasized the urgent need to address the alarming trend of security failures and insensitive responses.
