Tragic Assault on Medical Student in West Bengal Raises Security Concerns

Assault Incident at Medical College

A second-year medical student was reportedly assaulted within the premises of a private medical college in West Bengal. This incident echoes the tragic 2024 RG Kar case, where a junior doctor was raped and murdered. The victim, hailing from Jaleswar in Odisha, is pursuing her MBBS at a private college located near Durgapur, the largest industrial hub in West Bengal, approximately 170 kilometers from Kolkata. According to sources, the student left the campus with a male friend around 8:30 PM on Friday. Allegedly, a man dragged her to a secluded area behind the hospital and assaulted her.

Police Investigation Underway

Upon receiving reports of the incident, law enforcement arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation. The victim was admitted to a hospital for a medical examination. Authorities have begun questioning college staff and the victim's friend, among others.

Concerns Over Campus Safety

The father of the medical student informed reporters that he learned about the incident from his daughter's friend. He expressed his distress, stating that when he arrived, his daughter was in critical condition and there was no response from the hospital administration. He mentioned that his daughter had gone outside the campus to eat 'puchka' (a type of snack) after receiving a call from her boyfriend, Wasif Ali. Upon reaching the campus gate, she encountered four to five individuals, one of whom assaulted her, stole her mobile phone, and demanded 3,000 rupees for its return before fleeing.

Criticism of State Government

Following the incident, the West Bengal Doctors' Front (WBDF) condemned the gang assault on the medical student, highlighting the alarming reality that women are not safe even within campus environments. Advocating for justice for the victim, the WBDF urged the Chief Justice of India to take notice of the case and order a judicial inquiry. The main opposition party in West Bengal, the BJP, also criticized the government led by Mamata Banerjee, asserting that law and order in the state has repeatedly failed.