By Kavita Mistry 
Last Updated:
After facing backlash, Mamata Banerjee claims her remarks on the Durgapur medical student gangrape were ‘distorted’ by media.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday claimed that her comments on the alleged gang rape of a medical student in Durgapur had been “distorted” by the media, following sharp criticism from opposition parties and activists.
“The media has twisted my statement. You ask me something, I reply, and then you distort it. Please don’t play this kind of politics,” Banerjee said while speaking in Alipurduar.
The Chief Minister’s clarification came after her earlier remarks — suggesting that girls in private medical colleges should avoid going out at night — sparked widespread backlash. Referring to the alleged gang rape of a second-year medical student from Jaleswar, Odisha, studying in Durgapur, Banerjee had said, “I am shocked by the incident, but private colleges must ensure the safety of their students, especially girls. They should not be allowed to go out at night; they must also take care of their own safety. The area has forest cover, and police are searching for the culprits.”
Her statement triggered protests by BJP workers in North 24 Parganas, who accused the state government of victim-blaming.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar criticised Banerjee’s remarks, saying, “When the RG Kar incident happened, the government suggested reducing women’s night shifts. Now the Chief Minister says women shouldn’t go out at night. Does she want them to wear burqas and stay home?”
Meanwhile, police have arrested three suspects in connection with the Durgapur case. The accused were produced in court on Sunday.
DCP Abhishek Gupta of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate said, “Three people have been arrested so far and produced before the court. The investigation is proceeding as per protocol.”
According to the survivor’s father, his daughter had gone out with a classmate to get food when two or three men allegedly attacked and raped her. “Her friend called us around 10 p.m. and said my daughter had been raped. He abandoned her and fled when the attackers arrived,” he told reporters, demanding stronger security arrangements around the college area.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
October 12, 2025, 23:52 IST
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