Five Arrested in Durgapur Medical Student Gang Rape Case
The West Bengal Police on Monday arrested two more persons in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 23-year-old medical student in Durgapur, taking the total number of arrests to five. The incident occurred on Friday night when the woman, a native of Jaleswar in Odisha’s Balasore district, went out with a friend to have dinner near her private medical college. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abhisekh Gupta of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate confirmed that all five accused have been taken into custody based on the survivor’s complaint.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the incident as “shocking” and reiterated her government’s policy of zero tolerance toward crimes against women. However, her appeal urging women not to venture out alone late at night sparked widespread criticism from opposition leaders and women’s rights activists. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that one of the arrested accused was a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker, a claim the ruling party neither confirmed nor denied.
Responding to the allegation, TMC spokesperson Debanshu Bhattacharya maintained that the party does not shield wrongdoers and emphasized that “zero tolerance” would be upheld regardless of political affiliations. The case has drawn strong reactions from neighbouring Odisha as well, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi demanding strict action against the culprits. Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW) chairperson Sovana Mohanty is also visiting West Bengal to meet the survivor, assess her health condition, and review the police investigation.
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