If women must stay in, should men stay home? A question Bengal must face

Till now, no one has forgotten the shocking rape and murder of a medical student from R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata last year — a crime that left Bengal and the entire nation horrified.

- DR. PYALI CHATTERJEE

Now, another disturbing case has surfaced, involving a second-year medical student from a private medical college in Durgapur, again raising urgent questions about the safety of women in educational institutions. The victim, originally from Odisha, was allegedly gang-raped after leaving her hostel premises late at night.

According to the police, an initial probe revealed that the survivor went outside the campus with her friend between 8 and 8:30 p.m. The friend reportedly left her alone when three unidentified men arrived. “The men snatched her phone and took her to a jungle outside the campus, where they raped her. She was threatened with dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident,” said an officer on condition of anonymity. The accused also demanded Rs 5,000 from the survivor to return her mobile phone. Her statement has since been recorded, and within 36 hours of the incident, three suspects were arrested.

The case drew immediate political and public attention — not only because of the brutality of the crime but also due to the remarks made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. While condemning the incident and promising strict punishment for the accused, Banerjee stated, “A girl shouldn't be allowed to come outside at nighttime. They also have to protect themselves,” while calling the incident “shocking”. She further added, “No one will be excused.” The Chief Minister also questioned how the student was allowed to leave the campus so late at night and emphasised that private medical colleges must take responsibility for ensuring the safety of their students, especially girls, particularly when campuses are located in isolated or forested areas. Her remarks were widely criticised as victim-blaming, implying that the student's movement at night contributed to the crime.