In West Bengal, a court in Durgapur has remanded two more suspects to police custody in connection with the gang rape of a medical student from a private college. This comes a day after three other accused were sent to police custody for ten days.

 

West Bengal Governor Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose visited the victim at a hospital in Durgapur yesterday. Calling the incident “heart-wrenching, the Governor also met with the victim’s parents and assured them that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure justice. Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, alleged that leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress are involved in the case. BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Bansuri Swaraj also strongly condemned the incident.

 

 

A three-member team from the Odisha Commission for Women, led by Chairperson Sovana Mohanty, visited the victim after reportedly being delayed for a long period. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation. Several political parties, including the Left, criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her recent remarks suggesting that women and girls should avoid going out at night. Women’s organisations and civil society groups also staged protests outside the private medical college where the victim is enrolled. The student was allegedly gang raped on the night of the 10th of this month, near the college campus, while returning from dinner with a friend.