West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (X/@AITCofficial via PTI Photo)
Amid the outrage over allegations of gang rape of a medical student at Durgapur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks on Sunday (October 11, 2025) asking girl students residing in hostels not to venture out at night triggered a fresh controversy.
Speaking to media persons, the Chief Minister said, “Especially girl children at night time… they should not be allowed to come outside. They have to protect themselves also.”
Watch | ‘Girls have to protect themselves’: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee vows to take action in Durgapur rape case
The sexual assault survivor at Durgapur in Paschim Bardhaman district is an MBBS student at a private medical college. The student, who hails from Odisha, had reportedly gone out of the college with a male friend on Friday night (October 10, 2025). She was allegedly gang-raped by unidentified men near the college campus.
The Chief Minister also emphasised that private medical colleges should also take responsibility for their students, as the police could not keep a watch on every house. “If someone goes out at 12:30 a.m… anyone can go anywhere that is their right… but there is a system for those who stay in hostels.”
“In Bengal we have zero tolerance (against such crimes), and I will appeal to the boys and girls who come to study here not to venture out at night. This is because the police are not aware who is coming out (of hostels) when,” she added
The Chief Minister’s remarks triggered protests by the BJP leadership, with party leader Agnimitra Paul hitting the streets. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said Ms. Banerjee’s comment proved that the Trinamool Congress government “has no accountability regarding women’s safety”.
“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s comment following the horrific mass rape incident in Durgapur — women should not leave their homes after evening — is not only insensitive but also extremely insulting. Ms. Banerjee has completely failed to ensure the safety of women in the State. Now, to cover up administrative failures, she is blaming women themselves, which is a clear example of ‘victim blaming’,” Mr. Bhattacharya said.
Three arrested, raids on
Meanwhile, the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate arrested three persons in connection with the crime. The police are conducting raids to apprehend the other accused in the case. All the accused are locals and were apprehended after raids in the forests where the alleged incident had occurred.
The incident not only sparked strong reactions from the Opposition parties, but also Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged the West Bengal Chief Minister to take swift action against the perpetrators.
This is not the first time that women have been advised not to go out in the night after an incident of sexual assault has been reported in West Bengal. After the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College on August 9, 2024, one of the guidelines issued by the West Bengal government called for minimising night duty for women. This advisory was removed after the matter was highlighted before the Supreme Court.
Later on Sunday evening, the Chief Minister said that her address at Dum Dum Airport has been “deliberately distorted”.
“You ask me a question, and when I answer, my words are twisted and taken out of context. Do not try this nasty politics with me,” Ms. Banerjee said.
Published – October 12, 2025 02:53 pm IST
