Police in Durgapur, West Bengal, have dismissed claims of a second-year medical student being gang-raped in a forest near a private hospital, stating that evidence indicates only one perpetrator was involved. Sunil Kumar Chowdhury, the police commissioner of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, confirmed this information based on the survivor’s statement and physical evidence.
Chowdhury mentioned in a press conference that the ongoing investigation has revealed the involvement of a single individual in the sexual assault. Clothing belonging to the suspect has been gathered and sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis. The incident occurred on October 10 when a 23-year-old MBBS student from Jaleswar, Odisha, was reportedly assaulted outside her medical college campus, sparking political controversy in the region.
A police team visited the crime scene to reconstruct the events, with particular scrutiny on the woman’s friend. The commissioner highlighted that the presence of the five arrested suspects has been confirmed, and efforts are underway to gather forensic and medical reports. Additionally, the friend’s actions are under investigation, and he remains a person of interest.
Describing the harrowing ordeal, the survivor, currently receiving treatment, recounted the details of the assault and how she was coerced into a nearby forest by the accused. She narrated how the men seized her phone, compelled her to contact her friend, and threatened to escalate the situation if she resisted. The arrested individuals include a former college security guard, a hospital employee, a temporary worker at the local civic body, and an unemployed individual.
The father of the rape survivor criticized the ruling Trinamool Congress, likening the situation in West Bengal to oppressive rule and emphasizing his daughter’s well-being above her career. He expressed intentions to relocate his daughter to Odisha for her safety.