NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday upped the ante against Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government after a medical student was allegedly gang-raped in Paschim Bardhaman district. BJP accused the government of turning the state into nightmare for women’s safety through its deliberate policy of appeasement.In a social media post on X, BJP leader and Union minister Sukanta Majumdar said that chief minister Mamata Banerjee has turned “West Bengal into a safe haven for rapists and criminals.”“After the horrific rape of a young woman doctor at R.G. Kar Hospital, yet another horrifying crime has emerged! A second-year medical student at a private medical college in Durgapur has been gang-raped! The survivor, a student from Jaleswar in Odisha, was allegedly abducted while outside the campus and brutally assaulted in a nearby forest,” the Union minister said.“Under the failed and lawless rule of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal has turned into a nightmare for women’s safety. Across the state — from villages to cities, hospitals to homes women are unsafe everywhere. The administration’s deliberate policy of appeasement has crippled police investigations, giving violent criminals a free hand. Mamata Banerjee has turned West Bengal into a safe haven for rapists and criminals,” he added.BJP leader Amit Malviya also attacked Mamata Banerjee, claiming that the incident has triggered a massive outrage in Durgapur. He also shared video of people sloganeering against Mamata government in Durgapur.“The memories of the horrific rape and murder of a lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have resurfaced. A second-year medical student from IQ City Medical College and Hospital in Durgapur (West Bengal) was gang-raped in a nearby forest area by Wasif Ali and his associates. The survivor, a resident of Odisha, is currently undergoing treatment, and her statement has been recorded,” Malviya said.“The brutal crime has triggered massive protests across Durgapur, with people demanding swift justice and accountability from the Mamata Banerjee government. West Bengal is not safe for women,” he added.“This repeated failure of law and order exposes a disturbing pattern under Mamata Banerjee’s administration. The West Bengal Police must ensure a transparent and impartial investigation, unlike the RG Kar MCH case, which the Kolkata Police mishandled under instructions, so that the guilty face the harshest punishment under the law,” Malviya said in another post on X.“West Bengal is not safe for women. Until the TMC government is held accountable, women across the state will continue to live in fear. Mamata Banerjee must go in 2026,” he added.Meanwhile, West Bengal minister Shashi Panja said that BJP should not politicise crime against women. She claimed that BJP views such incident through a political lens.“The parents have arrived from Odisha and have expressed faith in the ongoing investigation, and the victim is being looked after,” Panja said.“BJP should not politicise crime against women. BJP views such incident through a political lens which is most unwarranted. And we donot want to reiterate that Kolkata is one of the safest City in all over India. Our government works for women and girl empowerment. The chief minister doesnot compromise with any kind of injustice against women. we have to wait for the investigation to be completed. BJP should not try to take a political advantage from such incidents,” she added.Odisha CM Mohan Majhi condemns heinous crimeOdisha chief minsiter Mohan Majhi strongly condemned the incident and directed senior officials to take necessary steps in coordination with the West Bengal government. He also pledged every possible assistance and support to the victim’s family.“Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Majhi has expressed deep anguish and strongly condemned the heinous gang rape of an Odia student in Durgapur, West Bengal. The Odisha CM has urged Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Smt. Mamata Banerjee, to ensure swift and exemplary action against the culprits. Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has directed senior officials to take all necessary steps in coordination with the West Bengal Government. The Odisha Government will extend every possible assistance and support to the victim’s family,” Odisha CMO wrote on X.This comes after a medical college student from Odisha was allegedly raped by unidentified men in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district. The incident took place on Friday night outside a private medical college campus in Durgapur, when the second-year student went out for dinner with a friend, according to her family.The medical student, hailing from Jaleswar in Odisha, is currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, a police officer said.“On the basis of a complaint lodged by the family members of the medical student, we have started an investigation,” he said.Talking to reporters, the parents of the student said they reached Durgapur this morning after getting a call from friends of their daughter.The mother alleged that her daughter was “gang-raped” around 10 pm on Friday when she went out of the college campus with one of her friends for dinner.“We got a call from her friends, and heard of the incident. We came here this morning and lodged a complaint with the police. I have heard that the college performed well academically, and this is why we sent our daughter to study medicine here,” the student’s father said.An initial probe revealed that the student went outside the campus with her friend around 8-8.30 pm on Friday, the police officer said.“The friend left her alone when three unidentified men arrived there. The men snatched her phone and took her to a jungle outside the campus, where they raped her. She was threatened with dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident,” the officer said.The accused also demanded money from the medic to return her mobile phone, he said.The statement of the student has been recorded, the officer said.“We spoke to the victim’s friend last night. We are trying to find out some CCTV footage. A forensic team will visit the spot to collect evidence,” the officer said.A team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) is heading towards Durgapur to meet the victim and her parents.“Crime against women is on the rise in Bengal. The police are not taking any proactive steps in such cases. This is quite unfortunate. I will request the chief minister to come forward and work in tandem to arrest the rise of such crimes,” NCW member Archana Majumdar said.
