Shouldn’t let girls go out at night: Mamata shocker on WB gang-rape

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday made a shocking statement on the alleged gang-rape of a medical student in Durgapur, advising colleges not to allow girls to go outside at night. The statement drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which called her a “blot on womanhood” and sought her resignation.

“I’m shocked to see the incident, but private medical colleges should also take care of their students, and especially girls. The girls should not be allowed to go outside (college) at night. They have to protect themselves also. There is a forest area,” Mamata said.

A second-year student of a private medical college was allegedly gang-raped in Durgapur. The survivor is from Jaleswar, Odisha.

Mamata condemned the incident and promised strong action against the perpetrators. “Nobody will be excused. Whoever is guilty will be punished strictly. Three people have already been arrested. We will take stringent action... When it happens in other states, it is also condemnable,” she said.

The West Bengal CM drew parallels with crimes in other states and questioned silence over the incidents. “Three weeks ago, three girls were raped on the beach in Odisha. What action is being taken by the Odisha government? Such incidents have taken place in Manipur, UP, Bihar, Odisha; we also think the government must take stringent action there,” she said.

The BJP accused the TMC supremo of “victim shaming” and said a CM who couldn’t stand with women in their darkest hour had no moral right to govern the state.

Meanwhile, the three accused who were arrested in the Durgapur gang-rape case were today presented in court and remanded in 10-day police custody.

Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate DCP Abhishek Gupta said: “Three persons have been arrested so far. They have been produced in court. Further investigation is ongoing, and everything is going according to the protocol. All investigation is taking place...”

According to the medical student’s father, she had stepped out with classmates to get something to eat. However, two or three men arrived at the scene and allegedly raped her. The classmate, he said, then “abandoned her and fled”.