A distressing event has unfolded in Durgapur, West Bengal, where a medical student hailing from Odisha was reportedly subjected to a brutal rape by unidentified assailants. The incident, which police confirmed on Saturday, took place on Friday night near a private medical college in Durgapur. The second-year student was out for dinner with a friend when the alleged assault occurred. She is currently receiving medical attention at a local hospital.
This grave incident has quickly escalated into a political battleground, with both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaging in a heated exchange on social media platforms.
Odisha CM Urges Action from Mamata Banerjee
Mohan Charan Majhi, the Chief Minister of Odisha, expressed profound concern over the incident and directly addressed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Majhi took to X (formerly Twitter) to state, “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. In this sensitive matter, I strongly urge the Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal, @MamataOfficial, to take exemplary action against the accused as per the law.” He also conveyed his best wishes for the victim’s swift recovery and assured that the Odisha government would provide all necessary assistance to the victim’s family.
BJP Criticizes West Bengal Government’s Law and Order
The BJP, West Bengal’s principal opposition party, has strongly criticized the Mamata Banerjee-led government, labeling the incident as yet another failure in the state’s law and order. The party’s West Bengal handle on X commented, “It seems that every day Mamata’s regime sees the horrific rape of a female student.” Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT cell chief, also weighed in, stating, “This repeated failure of law and order exposes a disturbing pattern under Mamata Banerjee’s administration. The West Bengal Police must ensure a transparent and impartial investigation…so that the guilty face the harshest punishment under the law.” He further added, “West Bengal is not safe for women. Until the TMC government is held accountable, women across the state will continue to live in fear. Mamata Banerjee must go in 2026.”
TMC Calls for Non-Politicization of the Issue
Reacting to the BJP’s statements, West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Shashi Panja urged that the matter should not be politicized. She questioned the BJP’s stance by asking, “Is there any place for politics here? And if anyone makes political statements, ask them what they have to say about the crimes committed against the girls in Odisha.” Panja also criticized the BJP’s silence on similar issues and asserted that the police have already begun their investigation.