Amid widespread outrage over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks on the alleged gangrape of a medical student in Durgapur, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy has triggered fresh controversy by saying that women should “avoid going out late at night,” as the police “cannot provide security at every inch.”
Speaking to ANI, the veteran MP commented on the incident involving a second-year MBBS student from Odisha’s Jaleswar, who was allegedly gangraped by a group of men near her medical college campus late Friday night.
“Such cases are rare in Bengal. Women’s safety here is better than in most other states. But women shouldn’t leave their colleges at late hours as the police can’t patrol everywhere,” Roy said.
He further added,
“Security cannot be provided at every inch. Police cannot be deployed on every road. Police can take action once an incident has occurred, so women should also be cautious.”
The Controversy and Political Reactions
Roy’s remarks come as the Trinamool Congress faces sharp criticism from opposition parties following Banerjee’s statement questioning why the survivor was “outside the campus at 12:30 am.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) have accused the ruling party of victim-blaming and deflecting accountability for deteriorating women’s safety in the state.
Earlier, Banerjee had said,
“She was studying in a private medical college… all the private colleges are whose responsibility? How did they come out in the night at 12:30? It happened, so far I know, in the forest area… investigation is on.”
Case Update
According to police, the incident took place on Friday night when the victim stepped out with a friend for dinner. The assault reportedly occurred near a secluded stretch outside the Durgapur Medical College campus.
Authorities have since arrested five suspects in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing.
Opposition Demands Accountability
The BJP has demanded a CBI probe, alleging police inaction and political pressure on college authorities. CPI(M) leaders have called Banerjee’s comments “insensitive” and urged the state government to focus on justice rather than moral policing.
The remarks by Saugata Roy have added fuel to the controversy, prompting fresh debate over women’s safety, state policing, and the political handling of sexual assault cases in Bengal.
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TMC MP Saugata Roy’s comment that “women shouldn’t go out late” amid the Durgapur gangrape case has sparked fresh outrage in Bengal politics. Opposition parties slam the ruling TMC and demand accountability.
