West Bengal CM Condemns Durgapur Assault Case; Assures Strict Action Against Accused

Mamata terms Durgapur 'gangrape' shocking, says no accused will be spared

PTI, KOLKATA,  OCT 12, 2025 : “Students staying in hostels, especially those who have come to West Bengal to study from outside, are expected to follow the rules of the hostels. They should avoid venturing out late at night, although they have the fundamental right to go wherever they want,” she said.

The police have certain logistical limitations in monitoring the movement of every individual, Banerjee said.

“Officers would not know who is leaving home at night and cannot stand guard outside every home.”

The chief minister also questioned the “selective outrage” over such crimes, drawing comparisons with similar cases in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. “We condemn all such incidents wherever it takes place. We have seen so many cases in Bihar, UP and Odisha. In Bengal, we do not tolerate such crimes. We take them very seriously,” she asserted.

“In UP, victims are set on fire while going to court... In Odisha, girls were raped at a sea beach – what action has been taken there?” Banerjee said.

In an indirect reference to the RG Kar Medical College doctor’s rape-murder case of 2024, she said, “In our state, the accused was charge-sheeted within a month and the lower court has already announced a death sentence.”

Meanwhile, three persons were arrested and one person detained on Sunday for their alleged involvement in the 'gangrape'.

The identities of the three arrested accused were yet to be disclosed by the police. "We arrested three persons in connection with the case this morning. They are being questioned. This is a very sensitive case and we will give out further details later," a police officer told PTI.

Sources in the police said that the mobile phones of the three accused were also seized.

On Sunday, police cordoned off the crime spot in a jungle adjacent to the Paranaganj Kali Bari cremation ground, he said.

Massive search operations were being carried out in the villages in and around the private medical college in Durgapur, the officer said, adding that drones were also used to conduct searches in the jungles in the area.

The woman's parents, who rushed to Durgapur from Odisha, lodged an FIR with the New Township police station.

The health condition of the survivor was stated to be "improving" as she is undergoing treatment at the private college and hospital where she was studying, the officer said, adding she has given her statement to the law enforcers.

"The three accused were traced through the mobile phone tower dumping method. More people could be involved in the crime, and searches are underway. We are also trying to find out whether these people were known to the survivor or her friend with whom she had gone outside the college. Her friend's role is also under scrutiny," a police source said.

The accused persons had used the survivor's mobile phone to call another accused to the crime spot, he said, adding that it helped them identify the mobile phone numbers of all the accused.

Meanwhile, the father of the survivor requested the state administration to take strict measures to punish the culprits.

"I will request the state government to take strict steps to ensure that girls and women in West Bengal are safe. I suspect that the friend who accompanied her outside was involved in the crime. Who knows? I have been requesting the police to take proactive steps so that other accused are nabbed," he said.

Multiple raids were conducted on Saturday in the areas adjoining the private college to nab the accused. Forensic experts also collected evidence from the jungle where the incident took place, he said.

The incident has triggered political mudslinging between the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition parties.

It prompted Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to express concern and urge his West Bengal counterpart, Mamata Banerjee, to take swift action against the perpetrators.