In the wake of the alleged rape of a student of a private medical college in Durgapur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday questioned the accountability of private institutions and urged colleges to monitor students’ night movements, stating that women students should not go out at night. "Ask the police, not me. It is a private college. No one is supporting it," Banerjee said while addressing the media, as the MBBS student’s rape has fuelled a political firestorm and drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition over law and order. The chief minister raised specific questions about the circumstances of the incident. "It is a shocking incident. The girl was studying in a private medical college. Whose responsibility is it in a private college? How did she come out at 12.30 am? As far as I know, it happened in the jungle. I don't know what happened at 12.30. The investigation is ongoing. I am shocked." "Three weeks ago, three girls were raped on a beach in Odisha. What has the Odisha Government done? If something happens to women in Bengal, we don't take it lightly. It's a serious incident," she said before leaving for North Bengal to assess the disaster situation brought about by heavy rain and landslides recently. Banerjee stressed the need for private colleges to enhance security and supervision, particularly for women students. "Private medical institutions should be careful. They must take care of their students. Especially when it's a girl student, she should not be allowed to go out at night. We have zero tolerance here for such crimes," she said. Banerjee also appealed directly to students, particularly those from other states. "I appeal to students who come from other states to not step out at night. See, it is everyone's right to go out when and wherever they want, but it is also a fact that police cannot go and sit at everyone's house. They should protect themselves, too. Especially in forest areas. The initial report I have received is that the police are conducting a search. No one will be spared. Whoever is guilty will be severely punished," the chief minister said. Banerjee said three people had been arrested based on the student's statement. The Trinamool Congress supremo also sought to dismiss the attacks against her Government over the law and order situation. "The incidents in other states are equally condemnable. Many incidents have taken place in Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha. The Government there should also take strict action. In our state, chargesheets are filed in one or two months. The lower court has even given the death sentence," she said. Regarding a gang rape incident that came to light in Lucknow, Banerjee added, "Many incidents are happening. They are happening every day. We have zero tolerance here. The raped woman is burnt to death before reaching the court in other states. Journalists are caught, stripped naked, and buried in jail." ‘Utterly deplorable’ and 'testimony to lawlessness' The Opposition, however, criticised her statement as an admission of lawlessness in the state. "A few days back, TMC MLA Madan Mitra had made a similar statement. Now the CM’s statement is testimony to lawlessness. She has no right to continue as CM. A fearless environment can be created only when we rid the state of the TMC," BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya said. CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty said that a private college was not responsible for security in a forest area. “During the RG Kar rape controversy, she (Banerjee) had said girls should not do night duty. Now she says they should not step out at night. Bengal is not safe for women. She said it is a private college and that they should take responsibility. But they are responsible only for the campus. A forest area, a PWD land, cannot be secured by a private college. Chakraborty said that Banerjee’s remarks were “utterly deplorable and shameful”. “The chief minister cannot evade responsibility for the absolute collapse of law and order in West Bengal. Shockingly, even now, she has chosen to shift the blame onto the private medical college! This despite the fact that just a few months ago, a young woman doctor was brutally raped and murdered inside a government medical college hospital. “A comment of this nature from a woman chief minister once again exposes that law and order has completely slipped out of the Government’s control. It is now Mamata Banerjee’s moral duty to step down without any further delay," BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar posted on X.
