KOLKATA, Oct 12: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her government has zero tolerance towards crime and assured that stringent action will be taken against the offenders in the Durgapur rape case involving an MBBS student from Odisha.
“It is a very unfortunate incident. We do not support such offences, and stringent action will be taken against the offenders,” Banerjee told reporters at the airport before leaving for flood-ravaged North Bengal.
This was the Chief Minister’s first public comment on the alleged gang rape of a 23-year-old MBBS student from Odisha outside her private medical college and hospital in Durgapur, about 170 km northwest of Kolkata, on 10 October around 9 p.m.
Banerjee also remarked that girl students should remain cautious and avoid going out late at night.
She said it was unfair to blame the state government for the incident, as it occurred outside a privately run medical college, whose authorities are responsible for ensuring students’ safety.
“Especially, a girl at night shouldn’t be allowed to go out. They have to protect themselves as well,” she said, adding that hostels also have specific regulations for boarders.
Banerjee described the incident as “shocking” and reiterated that no one would be spared, emphasising that her government has zero tolerance for such crimes.
The Chief Minister also questioned why her government was being singled out, referring to an incident nearly a month ago in Odisha.
“A student was gang raped on Puri beach. What action is being taken by the Odisha government?” she asked.
The Durgapur-Asansol Township Police have arrested three suspects and detained another for interrogation.
Police also recovered the survivor’s mobile phone from one of the arrested accused.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhishek Gupta said the three arrested men were produced before the court today, and further investigation is underway as per protocol.
The accused have been identified as Apu Bauri (21), Firdous Sheikh (23), and the prime accused, Sheikh Riazuddin (32).
All are residents of Paranganj village near the private medical college.
Police said the suspects live in the nearby locality, and investigations are ongoing to ascertain if more people were involved in the crime.
(UNI)
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