Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 12 (ANI): BJP West Bengal Secretary Priyanka Tibrewal on Sunday criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks on the Durgapur gangrape case, calling them “insensitive” and accusing her of victim-shaming.
She further asserted that instead of blaming the survivor, the state government must hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure the safety of women across Bengal.
A second-year student of a private medical college was allegedly gangraped in Durgapur. The survivor is from Jaleswar, Odisha.
Speaking to ANI, Tibrewal said, “Very insensitive comment once again comes from the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, where instead of asking her police and administration to hold on to the perpetrators who are behind this kind of crime she is again trying to victim shame. Now she is saying that the blame is on the girl because she moved out of the hostel.”
“She should also think that she is a woman first, and she is a woman chief minister, and she takes complete pride in saying so, where women of Bengal are not safe. Every time they talk about the NCRB data, the NCRB data is now like that because they do not report crime…it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that women are safe,” she added.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the incident and advised private medical colleges not to allow girls to go outside at night after the alleged gangrape of a medical student in Durgapur.
“I’m shocked to see the incident, but private medical colleges also should take care of their students, and especially girls. The girls should not be allowed to go outside (college) at night. They have to protect themselves also. There is a forest area. Police are searching all the people,” Mamata Banerjee said.
Mamata Banerjee condemned the incident and assured that strong action would be taken against the perpetrators.
“Nobody will be excused. Whoever is guilty will be punished strictly. Three people have already been arrested. We will take stringent action… When it happens in other states, it is also condemnable,” she said.
Meanwhile, three accused have been arrested in the alleged gangrape case of a medical student in West Bengal’s Durgapur. They were presented before the court today.
Speaking to reporters, Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate DCP Abhishek Gupta said, “Three persons have been arrested so far. They have been forwarded to the Court today. Further investigation is ongoing, and everything is going according to the protocol. All investigation is taking place…”
According to the student’s father, she stepped out with a classmate to get something to eat. However, two or three other men arrived and raped her. The classmate, he said then “abandoned her and fled.”
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of a distressing incident reported from West Bengal, where a young medical student from Odisha was allegedly subjected to gang-rape in Durgapur. (ANI)