Mamata Banerjee’s remark to Durgapur rape victim sparks outrage: “Why were you out at night?”

Kolkata (The Uttam Hindu): The alleged gang rape of a medical college student in Durgapur, West Bengal, has sparked a political storm in the state. While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed the police to take strict action in this horrific incident, she has also raised questions about the victim's absence from the college campus late at night, sparking a new controversy.

Speaking to reporters at the Kolkata airport before leaving for his North Bengal tour on Sunday, the Chief Minister described the incident as "horrific." He said, "This incident is truly horrific. As far as I've heard, the victim studies at a private medical college, so who is responsible? How did she leave the campus at 12:30 a.m. and go to the forested area?"

The Chief Minister held private medical college management accountable, saying they should take care of their students, especially the girls. He further cautioned the girls, saying, “…Girls should not be allowed to go out (from the college) at night. They must also protect themselves. This is a forest area.”

However, the Chief Minister assured that no one guilty in the case would be spared. He said, "Three people have already been arrested in this case. Police are searching all the people involved. Whoever is found guilty will be severely punished. We will take strict action."

Mamata Banerjee compared the incidents to incidents in other states, citing Odisha, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. She said, "When this happens in other states, it's condemnable. In our state, we filed a charge sheet within a month or two, and the trial court ordered the death penalty for the accused." Following the Chief Minister's statement, the opposition accused her of putting the victim in the dock.