‘Girls Shouldn’t Go Out at Night’: Mamata Banerjee Faces Backlash Over Remarks on Durgapur Gangrape Case
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stirred controversy on Sunday while commenting on the alleged gangrape of a medical student in Durgapur, suggesting that colleges should prevent girls from going out after dark and that women themselves should avoid night outings for safety. Despite her remarks, Banerjee assured that the culprits would face severe punishment.
The case involves a second-year MBBS student from Odisha’s Jaleswar, studying at a private medical college in Durgapur. According to her father, she was taken out by a classmate to get food when two or three men arrived; the friend allegedly abandoned her, and she was raped between 8 and 9 PM.
#WATCH | Kolkata, WB: On the alleged gangrape of an MBBS student in Durgapur, CM Mamata Banerjee says, "… 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. Nobody… https://t.co/9cck7wwxcn pic.twitter.com/OnuFiFSIAz
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2025
The Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate confirmed that three suspects have been arrested. The victim is currently in stable condition, receiving support from her mother and local authorities, including Deputy Magistrate Ranjana Roy.
Also read: 3 Arrested Over Medical Student’s Gang Rape In Bengal’s Durgapur
Banerjee condemned rape incidents nationwide, citing similar cases in Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha, and highlighted West Bengal’s track record of swift trials and convictions, including death sentences. However, opposition BJP leaders questioned the TMC government’s commitment to women’s safety in Bengal, intensifying political tensions over the incident.