Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: The father of the 23-year-old MBBS student from Odisha, who was gangraped in West Bengal’s Durgapur, has said he will take his daughter back to Odisha, citing concerns for her safety. The survivor, a second-year student at a private medical college in Durgapur, is currently bedridden after the assault.
Family To Shift Survivor To Odisha
“My daughter is in pain. She can’t walk right now. She is bedridden. I am concerned about her safety here. They could kill her any moment. That’s why we want to take her back to Odisha. Trust has been lost. We don’t want her to stay in Bengal. She will pursue her education in Odisha,” the father told ANI. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi has spoken to the family and assured support. The father has also requested that his daughter be given admission to a medical college in Odisha.
Incident And Arrests
The assault took place on Friday night when the student was out with a male friend. A group of men approached them, forcibly took the woman to a secluded area, and gangraped her. Police have arrested three men — Apu Bauri (21), Firdos Sekh (23), and Sekh Reajuddin (31) — while detaining one more suspect. The male friend is also under investigation. West Bengal police expressed deep sorrow over the incident and promised swift justice.
Political Reactions And Outrage
Odisha CM Manjhi called the crime “highly condemnable and painful” and urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure exemplary punishment for the accused. The BJP strongly attacked the Trinamool government, accusing it of failing to protect women, with BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul leading protests in Durgapur. Mamata Banerjee termed the incident “shocking” and criticised the private medical college for failing to ensure student security, while also questioning Odisha’s response to similar crimes.
Context Of Recent Cases
The assault has reignited concerns over women’s safety in Bengal, coming a year after the brutal rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and months after a student was raped at a law college in Kolkata. Opposition leaders have demanded stronger security measures and fast-track trials for such crimes.
