Kolkata, 13 October (H.S.): Trinamool Congress MP Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar stirred controversy on Monday with her remarks on the Durgapur gang-rape case, saying that “there is no country or society where such incidents do not happen.”

Her statement came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced criticism for suggesting that “girls should not go out at night” and questioning why the medical student had left the college premises at 12:30 a.m. However, college records later confirmed that the victim had stepped out around 8 p.m.

Speaking to reporters, Dastidar said, “One or two such cases happen in every society. You cannot find a country where these things never take place.”

The MP further claimed that the West Bengal government has already passed the Aparajita Bill to strengthen women’s safety, but it is pending approval from the President of India. Accusing the Centre of deliberate delay, she said, “We passed the Aparajita Bill in the West Bengal Assembly, but it’s stuck in Delhi. The President acts as per the Central government’s will. Despite repeated demands, the Bill has not been cleared. Hence, the responsibility lies with the Centre.”

The case involves a second-year MBBS student from Odisha who was allegedly gang-raped on October 10 outside the campus in Durgapur. Police said the student had gone out for dinner with a male friend when a group of youths on motorcycles began stalking and harassing them. The men allegedly chased away the friend, dragged the woman into a nearby bushy area, raped her, and threw away her mobile phone.

The male friend later returned with other students and found her injured and lying on the ground. She was admitted to a local hospital. Police confirmed that the victim is a resident of Jaleswar in Odisha.

So far, three accused — Sheikh Reajuddin, Apu Bauri, and Firdos Sheikh — have been arrested, while another was taken into custody on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, the BJP launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of “habitual victim-blaming.” Amit Malviya, BJP IT Cell Head and the party’s central co-observer for Bengal, wrote on X that Banerjee had repeatedly made insensitive remarks in previous cases too, reflecting “a complete lack of empathy towards women in the state.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh