The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of misrepresenting facts in the gang-rape of a second-year medical student from IQ City Medical College in Durgapur, West Burdwan district. The party challenged Mamata’s claim that the student left the college premises at 12:30 a.m., citing college records that show she exited at 8 p.m., reported the national media.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said, “The truth is that, as per IQ City Medical College & Hospital, the girl went out at 8 p.m., which is a decent hour by any standard. The girl student, a Dalit, was not gang raped inside the college campus. Hence, the responsibility of ensuring her safety rests with the police and state administration. The Chief Minister tried to blame the medical college.”
Malviya highlighted that the attack occurred in a poorly lit forested area behind the hospital, a location known for criminal activity, which authorities had ignored despite local awareness. The police have arrested all 5 accused in the Durgapur gangrape case. Authorities said the student was attacked Friday evening (10 October) after leaving with a male companion, who fled during the assault.
Malviya further criticised Mamata’s political priorities, stating, “For Mamata Banerjee, every woman’s life and dignity have a price and are secondary to her political interests. She even tried to buy the silence of the parents of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital victim. She is abominable.” Earlier, Mamata also had dismissed the 2012 Park Street gang-rape case as a fabricated incident, drawing criticism from opposition parties for undermining victims’ experiences.
The 23-year-old student, hailing from Jaleswar in Odisha’s Balasore district, was allegedly raped by a group of men on Friday night outside the campus when she went out with a friend for dinner. According to the victim’s father, one of her classmates took her out under the pretext of getting food. However, two or three other men joined them and allegedly raped her, while the classmate fled the scene.
