Three arrested in West Bengal medical college gang rape case
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Kolkata: Three individuals were arrested on Sunday in connection with the alleged gang rape of a private medical college student in Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal, while another person has been detained for questioning, police said.
The identities of the three arrested suspects have not yet been disclosed. “We arrested three persons in connection with the case this morning. They are being questioned. This is a very sensitive case and we will provide further details later,” a police officer said. Police sources confirmed that the mobile phones of the three accused were also seized.
The crime scene, located in a jungle adjacent to the Paranaganj Kali Bari cremation ground, was cordoned off by police on Sunday. Extensive search operations are underway in the villages surrounding the private medical college in Durgapur, with drones deployed to scan the jungles in the area.
The second-year medical student, a resident of Jaleswar in Odisha, was allegedly raped by multiple men in Durgapur on Friday night. The incident occurred outside the college campus when she had gone out for dinner with a friend. Her parents, who arrived in Durgapur from Odisha, lodged an FIR with the New Township police station.
The survivor’s health is reported to be improving as she undergoes treatment at the private college hospital where she is studying. She has also provided a statement to law enforcement authorities.
“The three accused were traced through the mobile phone tower dumping method. More individuals may have been involved in the crime, and searches are ongoing. We are also investigating whether the survivor or her friend knew the perpetrators. The friend’s role is under scrutiny,” a police source said. The accused allegedly used the survivor’s mobile phone to summon another individual to the crime scene, which helped police identify all the accused through phone records.
The survivor’s father urged the state administration to take strict action against the perpetrators. “I will request the state government to ensure the safety of girls and women in West Bengal. I suspect the friend who accompanied her outside may have been involved. I have been urging the police to take proactive steps to apprehend other accused,” he said.
Multiple raids were conducted on Saturday in areas surrounding the medical college to apprehend the suspects. Forensic experts also collected evidence from the jungle where the incident occurred.
Representatives from the West Bengal Commission for Women are expected to visit the college to meet the survivor and her parents. Officials from the West Bengal Doctors’ Forum (WBDF) and Abhaya Manch are also scheduled to visit, condemning the gang rape. WBDF president Dr Kaushik Chaki expressed outrage over the incident.
The case has sparked political reactions, with exchanges between the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition parties. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed concern and urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take swift action against the perpetrators.
With PTI inputs