"Why Was She Out So Late?": Mamata Banerjee’s Comment After Gang Rape Faces Criticism

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has faced fierce backlash for her remarks following the gang rape of a 23-year-old MBBS student in Durgapur. The incident, which unfolded late on a Friday night, has exposed deep rifts in women's safety discourse, with Banerjee questioning the victim's actions rather than focusing on systemic failures.

The second-year student from Jaleswar, Odisha, was pursuing her medical degree at a private college when she and a male friend were approached by a group of men. Forcibly dragged to a secluded spot, she endured a brutal assault that has left her bedridden and traumatized. Her devastated father, speaking from the hospital bedside, revealed plans to bring her back home immediately. "My daughter is in excruciating pain and can't even walk. We're terrified for her life here—trust in Bengal's safety is shattered. We'll get her admitted to a college in Odisha," he said, crediting Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi for swift support and coordination with West Bengal authorities.

Three suspects—Apu Bauri (21), Firdos Sekh (23), and Sekh Reajuddin (31)—have been arrested, while a fourth remains in custody. Police sources indicate the victim's friend is also under investigation, adding layers to the unfolding probe. West Bengal Police issued a somber statement on X, vowing relentless pursuit of justice: "The victim's agony resonates with us all; no effort will be spared to ensure the guilty face the full force of the law."

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Banerjee's response, delivered in her initial media interaction, quickly drew accusations of victim-shaming. "This is a private medical college—whose responsibility is it? How did she even come out at 12:30 a.m.? They must protect the night culture; it's a forest area out there," she remarked, urging institutions to enforce stricter curfews on students. While condemning the "shocking" crime and promising severe punishment, her words shifted scrutiny onto the survivor's movements, prompting sharp rebuttals.

The BJP has led the charge against Banerjee, branding her comments a "disgrace to womanhood." Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia lambasted her on X: "Shameless @MamataOfficial, a blot after RG Kar and Sandeshkhali—blaming victims instead of delivering justice! She has no moral right to office and must resign." Echoing this, Shehzad Poonawalla accused her of a pattern: "Blaming the beti, defending the balatkari—RG Kar, Sandeshkhali, Park Street all over again. Where's the outrage from Supriya Shrinate, Priyanka Vadra, or Rahul Gandhi now?"

In a defensive pivot, Banerjee countered by highlighting similar atrocities in BJP-ruled states. "Odisha sees girls raped on beaches—what has their government done? Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar are rife with such horrors; they need stringent action too," she fired back, attempting to broaden the narrative beyond Bengal's borders.

Odisha's Chief Minister Manjhi condemned the assault as "highly condemnable and painful," pressing Banerjee for exemplary measures. "I've directed officials to liaise with West Bengal and extend every aid to the family," he stated, underscoring inter-state solidarity amid the grief.

This Durgapur horror revives painful memories of last year's RG Kar Medical College rape-murder in Kolkata and a recent law college assault in the city, fueling demands for robust safety reforms. As arrests mount and political tempers flare, the focus remains on healing a broken family and reclaiming trust in a system that failed one young woman at her most vulnerable hour.

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