Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Monday addressed the alarming issue of the gangrape of an Odia medical student in West Bengal’s Durgapur on Friday, by speaking with the chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW).
In a post shared on X, Parida wrote that the NCW, based on the report of its fact-finding team, has recommended several measures to ensure a fair investigation into the heinous incident of gangrape of the innocent medical student hailing from the Jaleswar area of Balasore district in Odisha.
“Spoke with NCW Chairperson Smt. @VijayaRahatkar, who has taken serious cognisance of the heinous gang rape of an #Odia medical student at a medical college in Durgapur, West Bengal. The @NCWIndia has deputed a fact-finding team and, based on its findings and observations, has issued strong recommendations to the State Government of West Bengal, calling for a fair investigation and prosecution, safety of the victim, quality medical care, academic relief, a comprehensive security audit, and strict institutional accountability,” the Deputy Chief Minister said in the post.
Spoke with NCW Chairperson Smt. @VijayaRahatkar , who has taken serious cognizance of the heinous gang rape of an #Odia medical student at a medical college in Durgapur, West Bengal.
The @NCWIndia has deputed a fact-finding team and, based on its findings and observations, has…
— Pravati Parida (@PravatiPOdisha) October 13, 2025
Meanwhile, the women’s wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest in Bhubaneswar on Monday evening, during which they burnt the effigy of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the brutal gangrape of an Odia medical student.
Reacting to the incident, BJP Mahila Morcha President Aishwarya Biswal slammed the West Bengal CM, stating it was “extremely shameful” that Banerjee, “despite being a woman herself, has shown no sympathy for the Odia girl.”
“Her insensitive remarks and silence over such a horrific incident reflect a complete lack of respect towards women. Violence against women in West Bengal has been rising continuously, and the state government has failed to protect its daughters. The BJP Mahila Morcha strongly condemns this incident and demands strict punishment for the culprits,” she said.
Separately, workers from the Congress-affiliated Nari Nyay Vahini also held a protest in the city, demanding justice for the Odia medical student.
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଝିଅ ତଥା ପଶ୍ଚିମବଙ୍ଗ ଦୁର୍ଗାପୁରରେ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଡାକ୍ତରୀ ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କୁ ଗଣଦୁଷ୍କର୍ମ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଅମାବନୀୟ ଲଜ୍ଜାଜନକ । ଏହାକୁ ଯେତେ ନିନ୍ଦା କଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ କମ୍ ହେବ । ମେଡିକାଲ କ୍ୟାଂପସରେ ଥିବା ପୀଡିତା ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଯେଉଁ ଭଳି ଅମାନୁଷିକ ଓ ବର୍ବରୋଚିତ ଘଟଣା ଘଟିଛି ତାହା ପଶ୍ଚିବଙ୍ଗର ମହିଳା ସୁରକ୍ଷାକୁ ନେଇ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନବାଚୀ ସୃଷ୍ଟି… pic.twitter.com/iLV8jKbRps
— BJP Odisha (@BJP4Odisha) October 13, 2025
The victim, a second-year student at a private medical college and hospital in West Burdwan district’s Durgapur, reportedly went out for dinner with a male friend last Friday night when a group of young men on motorcycles began to stalk them and made objectionable remarks.
The attackers allegedly chased away the male friend, dragged the student to a forested area behind the campus, and gang-raped her.
West Bengal police have since arrested five accused persons. Furthermore, a three-member team from the Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW), led by chairperson Sovana Mohanty, visited the victim at the Durgapur hospital on Monday to inquire about her health.
