Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday spoke to the 23-year-old Durgapur gang-rape survivor via phone and promised her all the possible support.
The survivor, a second-year MBBS student at a private medical college in Durgapur, West Bengal, was allegedly gang-raped by a group of at least five persons on Friday evening while returning from dinner with a male friend.
The Chief Minister also spoke with the survivor’s mother and the Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW) chairperson, Shovana Mohanty, who was present at the hospital during the phone call.
A video clip of the conversation was released to the media by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
“Don’t worry at all. The Odisha government is completely with you and your family. We will look after everything. Do not lose patience. Face the situation with courage,” Majhi told the survivor.
Majhi wished her a speedy recovery and pledged assistance to ensure she could continue her studies, and vowed that strong action would be taken against the perpetrators. “Speak about your issues to our people who have gone to Durgapur to meet you,” the CM added.
When the young woman requested the Chief Minister’s help in transferring to a medical college in Odisha, Majhi was heard responding that he would look into the feasibility.
“Since you are a student of a private medical college, I will have to explore possibilities on how to get it (transfer) done. I have spoken to officials to enquire into it,” he explained.
Majhi asked the survivor’s mother if they had shared their concerns with the West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, who had visited them earlier in the day.
“The Odisha government will exert pressure at every level to ensure that the culprits are punished severely for this heinous crime,” Majhi assured the mother.
The Chief Minister instructed the Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW) chairperson, Shovana Mohanty, to maintain communication with the West Bengal government and make efforts to ensure the victim receives justice.
