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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced fierce criticism on 13 October 2025 for her remarks on the gang-rape of a 23-year-old second-year MBBS student from Odisha at a private medical college in Durgapur, where she suggested girls should not venture out at night.
Speaking to reporters on 12 October, Banerjee said, "The girls should not be allowed to go outside (college) at night. They have to protect themselves also," adding that the private institution must explain how the survivor left the campus late.
The comment, made hours after police arrested three of the five accused, drew accusations of victim-blaming from the BJP and women's rights groups, evoking memories of the 2012 Park Street case, where she dismissed a rape as a "fabricated" story.
The survivor's father refuted her timeline, stating she left at 7:58 pm to fetch food, not midnight, as CCTV footage showed.
All five suspects—local men including Sheikh Nasim Uddin, Sheikh Riyaz Uddin, Sheikh Ferdaus, and Sheikh Safikul—were in custody by evening, with police vowing fast-track trials.
Banerjee's controversial statement
Banerjee, addressing the media in Kolkata, expressed shock at the incident but shifted focus to the survivor's movements: "Why was she out at 12:30 am? The college should not allow girls to go out at night, especially in a forest area." She vowed "strict punishment" for the guilty and questioned why her government faces scrutiny for every rape, citing a recent Odisha beach assault: "What action is Odisha taking?"
On 13 October, she defended herself, claiming her words were "deliberately distorted" and meant for college safety, not blame: "Don't try this nasty politics with me."
The remark ignited a firestorm, with TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee echoing: "Girls shouldn't leave colleges at night."
On X, #VictimBlaming trended, with users posting: "Mamata's playbook: Deflect, blame the victim—RG Kar deja vu."
Date | Incident | Objectionable Statement | Context/Backlash |
|---|---|---|---|
February 2012 | Park Street gang-rape case (Kolkata) | "This is a fabricated story... She went to a party and then had some problem with a person." | Dismissed the assault as a "staged incident" for political gain; led to public outrage and protests; survivor fought legally for justice. |
August 2012 | General rise in rape cases | "Earlier, if men and women held hands, they would be caught and reprimanded... now everything is so open. It’s like an open market with open options." | Attributed increased rapes to modern interactions between genders; resurfaced during RG Kar protests, drawing criticism for insensitivity. |
2013 | Assembly debate on rising rapes | "Rapes are happening because of the rise in population... modernisation, shopping malls and multiplexes." | Blamed societal changes and population growth; opposed during Vidhan Sabha debate, accused of trivialising crimes. |
June 2013 | Kamduni gang-rape and murder (Barasat) | "The culprits will be hanged... but the girl should not have gone out at night." | Questioned victim's night outing despite promising justice; sparked protests and feminist backlash. |
April 2022 | Hanskhali minor gang-rape and murder (Nadia) | "Is it rape or love affair gone wrong? If a girl and boy fall in love, it’s not in my control." | Downplayed the assault as a possible "love affair"; BJP and activists called it victim-blaming, leading to calls for resignation. |
October 2025 | Durgapur MBBS student gang-rape | "Why was she out at 12:30 am? Girls should not be allowed to go outside at night; they have to protect themselves." | Implied victim's responsibility for being out late; father countered with 8 pm timeline; BJP demanded resignation, #VictimBlaming trended. |
Durgapur gang-rape incident
The assault occurred on the evening of 10 October near IQ City Medical College in Durgapur, 170 km from Kolkata.
The survivor, from Jaleswar, Odisha, left campus with a male friend around 8 pm to buy food when five locals abducted her, dragging her to a secluded forest and gang-raping her for hours. She was dumped near the college gate before midnight, where passersby alerted police. Her parents rushed from Odisha, lodging an FIR on 11 October.
The Asansol Durgapur Police arrested three suspects on 11 October—Sheikh Nasim Uddin, Sheikh Riyaz Uddin, and Sheikh Ferdaus—after raids in forest hideouts.
Two more, including Sheikh Safikul, were nabbed on 12 October, completing arrests.
Police confirmed medical evidence and are probing college security lapses.
The survivor, stable but traumatised, received counselling; her father demanded transfer to Odisha, citing safety fears.
Backlash from opposition and activists
The BJP led the charge, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju calling it "shameful victim-shaming," linking it to RG Kar's 2024 rape-murder. Leader Suvendu Adhikari planned a Durgapur visit, accusing TMC of shielding perpetrators: "Haven for rapists under Mamata."
Amit Malviya tweeted: "Mamata lies—CCTV shows 8 pm exit, not midnight. Blame the girl, not the criminals."
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi condemned the assault, urging Banerjee for "exemplary action" and offering state support.
Activists like Brinda Karat decried it as "insensitive," demanding a judicial probe.
On X, #EndVictimBlaming surged, with posts like: "Mamata's deflection: Protect girls? Or protect rapists?"
Banerjee's defence and political context
On 13 October, Banerjee clarified: "My words were twisted—colleges must ensure night safety, not blame victims." She accused the BJP of "nasty politics," citing Odisha cases to deflect.
The TMC defended her as "contextual," but internal whispers of damage control emerged.
The row echoes Park Street 2012, where Banerjee called a rape "fabricated," delaying justice.
With 2026 polls looming, it fuels the BJP's "lawless Bengal" narrative, amid 1,200+ rapes reported yearly.
The controversy highlights Bengal's women's safety crisis, post-RG Kar protests. Activists demand stricter laws and college audits. As the police probe, the father's plea—"My daughter's safety is at risk"—resonates.