Bengal Guv to visit Durgapur to meet gang-rape victim and her parents
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose today strongly condemned the alleged gang-rape of a 2nd year MBBS student in West Bardhaman’s Durgapur town, and said he would go to Durgapur to meet the survivor in hospital and her parents. In a strong message to the state administration, the Governor said that such a crime on women is not new in the state and advised the police forces to be more proactive and find out some mechanism to ensure the safety and security of people. Bose said the Police force is primarily responsible for maintaining law and order in the state and in this case there was some lacunae. He said he would meet the survivor and her parents in Durgapur to learn more about the incident. Governor Bose returned today to Kolkata. He had gone to Siliguri to meet injured BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Shankar Ghosh, and then gone to New Delhi to report on the state’s law and order situation after the two opposition leaders were assaulted while distributing flood relief material in Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri. Bose is expected to catch a train in order to travel to the industrial town of Durgapur. Sources said the visit of the governor is to address the public outcry following the alleged gang rape of an MBBS student from a private medical college in the city on October 10.
Bengal minister Sashi Panja alleged BJP is politicising medical student gang-rape in Durgapur
West Bengal Minister for Women and Child Development, Shashi Panja, today said it was “very unfortunate” that a student of a private medical college was gang-raped, but accused the BJP of “politicising” the incident. Panja said the police had received a complaint regarding the alleged gang rape case and a thorough investigation was underway. She confirmed that the victim, a minor from Odisha, was in hospital where she was receiving proper medical care and counseling. “The girl is being looked after, and her statement will play a crucial role in the investigation,” Panja said. The minister added that the victim’s parents had arrived from Odisha and expressed confidence in the Kolkata Police’s ongoing probe. Panja criticised the BJP for “politicising” the sensitive issue. “Crimes against women should never be viewed through a political lens, but unfortunately, the BJP continues to do so,” she remarked. “We don’t need to repeatedly state that Kolkata is the safest metropolis in India or that West Bengal is committed to women’s empowerment. The Chief Minister never compromises when it comes to ensuring justice for women,” Panja asserted. Urging patience, she said, “We must wait for the police investigation to be completed before drawing any conclusions.” Panja further said it was “unfortunate” that BJP leaders in Bengal were using the incident for political gain, while similar cases of harassment and self-immolation of women in BJP-ruled Odisha had gone largely unaddressed
