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A 23-year-old Odisha student pursuing medicine in Durgapur was allegedly assaulted near her college after stepping out for dinner, raising urgent concerns over women’s safety in Bengal’s educational institutions.
Medical student from odisha assaulted near college campus in WB.
Durgapur: A 23-year-old second-year medical student from Odisha was allegedly assaulted by unidentified men near her college campus in Durgapur on Friday night. The incident has once again put a spotlight on the safety of women students in West Bengal, particularly around academic institutions.
According to police, the victim, a resident of Jaleswar in Odisha, had stepped out with a male friend to eat dinner when a group of men intercepted them. The survivor told investigators that her friend ran away after the men confronted them, leaving her alone and vulnerable.
“She was dragged to a nearby forest area by the men, where one of them allegedly assaulted her. They also took away her mobile phone and threatened to kill her if she raised an alarm,” a police officer from Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate said.
The survivor’s mother, speaking to reporters, said her daughter had gone out on her friend’s request. “Three people started following them. Her friend abandoned her and ran away. Later, two more men joined, and one of them committed the crime. My daughter’s phone was snatched, and she was threatened with death,” she said.
Her parents, who rushed from Odisha to Durgapur after receiving a call from their daughter’s friends, lodged a formal complaint on Saturday morning. “We sent her here because this college had a good academic reputation. We never imagined something like this could happen,” the father said in anguish.
The student is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital. Police have registered an FIR and detained several individuals for questioning. CCTV footage from the area is being examined to identify the accused.
Senior police officials confirmed that teams had been deployed to trace the culprits. “We are probing all possible angles. Some persons have been detained for questioning. CCTV footages from surrounding areas are being reviewed,” the officer added.
Sources said a special team is focusing on tracking the victim’s stolen phone, which may provide crucial leads about the suspects’ movements.
The MBBS student is undergoing medical treatment.
The incident has reignited the debate over the safety of women in educational spaces across West Bengal. In July this year, a law student was allegedly assaulted inside South Calcutta Law College in Kolkata’s Kasba area, leading to multiple arrests, including a security guard and two students.
In August 2024, the brutal assault and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College triggered widespread protests across India. The accused, a civic police volunteer, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Women’s rights activists have demanded stricter campus safety norms and better night-time policing, especially around university areas and hostels.
Social media platforms saw an outpouring of anger and calls for justice after the Durgapur case came to light. Many questioned the safety protocols around college campuses and urged the state government to ensure that women students feel secure, both inside and outside institutions.
Police officials said they are working to ensure swift justice. “This is a sensitive case. We are taking it very seriously,” a senior officer assured.
