West Bengal Police have assured the public that perpetrators of the alleged gang-rape of a medical college student will face justice, urging citizens not to spread unverified information as investigations continue.
The incident occurred late Friday night in Paschim Bardhaman district when a second-year medical student from Odisha was allegedly sexually assaulted outside her college campus in Durgapur. The victim, who hails from Jaleswar, had gone out for dinner with a friend when the attack took place around 10 pm.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, West Bengal Police expressed deep sadness over the assault and reaffirmed their commitment to bringing the criminals to justice. "The pain of the victim is as much ours as it is Odisha's, and we shall leave no stones unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice," the police stated.
According to preliminary investigations by the New Township Police Station, the student and her friend had left the campus between 8 pm and 8:30 pm on Friday evening. An officer familiar with the case revealed that three unidentified men approached the pair, and the friend reportedly left the victim alone. The assailants snatched her mobile phone and forcibly took her to a secluded jungle area outside the campus, where the gang-rape occurred. The attackers threatened her with severe consequences if she reported the incident and demanded money for the return of her phone.
The survivor is currently receiving treatment at the college hospital and has provided her statement to authorities. Police confirmed that all necessary assistance is being extended to the victim and her family. Her parents traveled to Durgapur on Saturday morning after being contacted by their daughter's friends about the incident.
The victim's mother described the assault as a gang-rape, expressing shock that such an incident could occur at an institution they had chosen for its academic reputation. "We came here this morning and lodged a complaint with the police. I had heard that the college performed well academically, and this is why we sent our daughter to study medicine here," the student's father told reporters.
Law enforcement officials are pursuing multiple investigative leads. Police have interviewed the victim's friend and are examining CCTV footage from the area. A forensic team is scheduled to visit the crime scene to collect evidence. Abhishek Gupta, Deputy Commissioner (East) of Durgapur Commissionerate, acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter and assured that the investigation is being conducted thoroughly, with all aspects under consideration.
A team from the National Commission for Women has also arrived at the hospital to meet with the victim and her parents, demonstrating the case's significance at the national level.
West Bengal Police emphasized their zero-tolerance policy regarding crimes against women and called on the public to refrain from sharing unverified information that could compromise the investigation or cause additional distress to the victim and her family. The department assured citizens that they remain fully committed to ensuring justice is served in this case.
As the investigation progresses, authorities are working to identify and apprehend the suspects while providing comprehensive support to the victim during her recovery.
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