Following criticism of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks on the alleged rape of a medical student in West Bengal’s Durgapur, CM Banerjee on Sunday claimed that the media had “distorted” her words. “The media has distorted my words. You ask me questions, I answer them and then you distort them. Don’t do this kind of politics,” Chief Minister Banerjee said in Alipurduar.
Following the incident of alleged gang rape of a second year student of a private medical college in Durgapur, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday made a shocking statement. He advised colleges not to allow girls to go out at night. The victim is a resident of Jaleshwar, Odisha.
Mamata Banerjee said, “I am shocked to see this incident, but even private medical colleges should take care of their students, especially girls. Girls should not be allowed to go out of the college at night. They also have to protect themselves. This is a forest area. Police are searching everyone.”
The remarks sparked massive protests and BJP workers on Sunday protested against the state government over the Durgapur rape case in North 24 Parganas. Union Minister Sukant Majumdar said the Trinamool Congress leadership was repeatedly making such statements on women and asked whether the Chief Minister wanted all women to wear burqas and stay at home.
Majumdar said, “Earlier, when the RG Kar Medical College incident took place, a notification was issued that private companies should give fewer night shifts to women. Now the Chief Minister is saying that women should not go out at night. Does she want all women to wear burqas and stay at home?”
Meanwhile, three accused have been arrested in the alleged gang rape of a medical student in Durgapur, West Bengal. They were produced in the court today. Speaking to reporters, DCP Abhishek Gupta of Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate said, “So far three people have been arrested. They have been produced in the court today. Further investigation is underway and everything is going on as per protocol. All investigations are going on…”.
According to the medical student’s father, she had gone out to eat with one of her classmates. Then two-three other people reached there and raped her. He said the classmate “left him and ran away.”
The student’s father told reporters, “At 10 pm, her friend called us and told us that your daughter has been raped. We live in Jaleshwar. My daughter used to study here.” Yesterday, one of her classmates had taken her out on the pretext of eating, but when two-three more people came, he left her and ran away. They raped her. This incident happened between 8:00 and 9:00 pm. The hostel was far away, and she came here to eat. There are not adequate security arrangements. Such a serious incident happened, but no action was taken. There is no system here, no reaction…”.