• Source:JND
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In a startling incident, a medical student was allegedly gangraped at a private medical college in West Bengal's Durgapur, refreshing chilling memories of similar cases in the state in the past years.

The victim, a second-year MBBS student, belonged to Odisha's Jaleswar. The police have launched an investigation into the incident. 

According to the information, the incident took place outside the private medical college campus in Durgapur on Friday night when the victim went out with one of her friends for dinner, her family members said.

"On the basis of a complaint lodged by the family members of the medic, we have started an investigation," the police officials said. The parents of the victim said that they reached Durgapur this morning after getting a call from their daughter's friends.

The victim student's mother alleged that her daughter was gangraped around 10 pm last night when she went out of the college campus with one of her friends for dinner.

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"We came here this morning and lodged a complaint with the police. I have heard that the college performed well academically, and this is why we sent our daughter to study medicine here," the student's father said.

In the initial probe, police have found out the student went outside the campus with her friend around 8:00-8:30 PM. The official added, "The friend left her alone when three unidentified men arrived there. 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".

The accused also demanded money from the medic to return her mobile phone, he said. The statement of the student has been recorded, the officer said.

"We spoke to the victim's friend last night. We are trying to find out some CCTV footage. A forensic team will visit the spot to collect evidence," the officer said.

The incident has yet again prompted concern over women's safety in West Bengal, with similar cases being witnessed in the recent past.

Meanwhile, a team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) is heading towards Durgapur to meet the victim and her parents.

"Crime against women is on the rise in Bengal. The police are not taking any proactive steps in such cases. This is quite unfortunate. I will request the chief minister to come forward and work in tandem to arrest the rise of such crimes," NCW member Archana Majumdar said.

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The government has also swung into action as the state health department on Saturday sought a report from the private medical college in Durgapur, a senior official said.

BJP reacts

Reacting to the tragic incident, BJP MLA Lakhan Ghorai said, "From last night until now, no arrests have been made. The girl was raped, it was a gang rape, yet no one has been arrested so far. Therefore, the BJP Durgapur unit, along with the entire party and workers, is heading to Andal police station."

Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari said, "No woman is safe in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee's government. Police only protect the CM and her tainted nephew, and extort money for TMC."

TMC slams BJP for politicising incident

TMC leader and Bengal Minister Shashi Panja said that the victim's family has expressed faith in the police investigation. She lashed out at the BJP, saying that it always sees such incidents through a political lens.

"Unfortunately, the BJP always views such through a political lens, which is most unwarranted. We dont want to reiterate that Calcutta is also one of the safest metropolises in all of India. We do not want to reiterate because everybody knows that West Bengal works for women's and girls' empowerment. We don't want to reiterate because everybody knows that the chief minister doesn't compromise with any kind of injustice against women. We have to wait for the investigation to be completed," she added.

Odisha CM directs state officials to take necessary steps 

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Manjhi condemned the incidenturging the Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee take exemplary action against the accused as per the law. He said, "The unfortunate incident of gang rape involving an Odia student in Durgapur, West Bengal, is highly condemnable and painful. I am deeply shocked upon hearing this news. I strongly urge the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to take exemplary action against the accused as per the law... I have instructed senior officials to contact the West Bengal government and take necessary steps. All possible assistance will be provided to the victim's family on behalf of the Odisha government."

(With PTI and ANI Inputs)