West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday sparked controversy after questioning why a woman was outside her college campus late at night in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a medical student in Durgapur. Speaking at a press conference, Banerjee said private colleges must ensure that “girls are not allowed to go out late at night,” asking, “How did she come out of the campus at 12:30 am?”
The student, who hails from Jaleswar in Odisha, is a second-year medical student at a private college in Durgapur. She was allegedly raped by a group of men on Friday night when she went out for dinner with a friend. Her parents, however, said the incident took place before 10 pm and that they were informed about it around 9:30 pm.
“We received a call from her classmates around 9:30 pm. They told us she was raped and that we should immediately come to Durgapur,” the survivor’s father told reporters. “She is not well and has been admitted to the hospital. The miscreants even demanded money to return her mobile phone.”
Her mother said her daughter went out to eat at her friend’s request and was followed by three men. “When they started following them, her friend ran away. My daughter was left alone, and the men dragged her into a nearby forest area. Two more people joined them. One of them raped her and snatched her phone, threatening to kill her if she screamed,” she said.
Mamata Banerjee, while expressing shock at the incident, said private medical colleges must take greater responsibility for student safety, “especially the girl child.” “They should not be allowed to come out at night… they have to protect themselves also,” she said.
Later in the day, as criticism mounted, Banerjee accused the media of “distorting” her remarks. “I was only saying that private institutions must take care of their students and ensure their safety,” she clarified.
Police said they are investigating the case, and the survivor remains under medical treatment. The accused have not yet been identified.
