The West Bengal Police have arrested two more persons in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a medical student in Durgapur, taking the total number of accused in custody to five.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Asansol–Durgapur) Abhisekh Gupta confirmed the development, stating,
“Two more arrests have been made. With these, all five accused have been taken into custody based on the complaint filed by the survivor.”
The incident occurred on Friday night, when the 23-year-old woman a student from Odisha’s Balasore district went out for dinner near her private medical college in Durgapur. She later filed a complaint alleging that she was assaulted by a group of men.
Police Action and Government Response
Three accused were arrested on Sunday, followed by two more on Monday.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the case as “shocking” and reiterated that her government maintains a policy of zero tolerance toward crimes against women.
“The incident is deeply disturbing. The government will ensure strict action against those found guilty,” Banerjee said.
However, her additional remark urging women “not to venture out alone late at night” drew sharp criticism from opposition parties and women’s rights groups, who accused her of victim-blaming rather than addressing systemic safety issues.
Political Fallout
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that at least one of the arrested individuals was linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), calling it “a failure of governance and accountability.”
In response, TMC spokesperson Debanshu Bhattacharya dismissed the claim, stating,
“Even if any accused has political links, that does not change our stand. The TMC has zero tolerance for crimes of this nature. Had this incident occurred in a BJP-ruled state, the accused would have been garlanded instead.”
The exchange has intensified the political blame game, with both parties trading charges over law and order in the state.
Reaction from Odisha
The incident has also drawn concern from neighboring Odisha, where Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged his West Bengal counterpart to ensure the strictest punishment for those responsible.
Sovana Mohanty, Chairperson of the Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW), is expected to visit West Bengal to meet the survivor, her parents, and the local police. She will also assess the woman’s health condition and the progress of the investigation.
The Durgapur case has once again highlighted the urgent need for stronger mechanisms to ensure women’s safety, and for political accountability that transcends party lines.
Beyond arrests and rhetoric, consistent legal action and systemic reform remain the need of the hour.
