Durgapur rape case: Victim's father refutes Mamata's claim, criticises remark on women's safety

The father of a 23‑year‑old medical student from Odisha has rejected West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s claim that his daughter left her hostel campus after midnight, saying instead that she was sexually assaulted between 8 pm and 9 pm on Friday, as per a report by TOI.

During a press briefing, Mamata said she had been informed that the student and her male classmate were outside the campus at 12:30 am. Responding to this, the father stated, “My daughter was sexually assaulted between 8 pm and 9 pm on Friday. Yet the CM falsely claimed the incident happened past midnight.” He also criticised what he called an insensitive remark by the Chief Minister, who had suggested women should avoid going out at night. “Despite being a woman herself, she made an insensitive remark suggesting women should not be out at night,” he told TOI.

Odisha officials review investigation in West Bengal

Earlier in the day, a team of Odisha government officials visited West Bengal to assess the progress of the police investigation. Niranjan Behera, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) from Balasore, told reporters in Durgapur that they had found the investigation satisfactory, noting that “within 36 hours, they arrested three accused and detained another suspect for questioning.” Hemanta Singh, Additional District Magistrate from Balasore, who accompanied Behera, also confirmed that the West Bengal police updated them on their progress, and that the survivor’s condition is stable.

Also Read: Mamata Banerjee says girls should not go out at night after Durgapur gangrape

Shovana Mohanty, Chairperson of the Odisha State Commission for Women, said her team would soon travel to West Bengal to support the survivor. “We will conduct a counselling session with the medical student and ensure she is receiving proper treatment in Durgapur,” Mohanty added.

(With inputs from TOI)