BHUBANESWAR/BALASORE: BJP leaders from Odisha, including Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, expressed outrage over the alleged gangrape of an Odia medical student in Durgapur and urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure a fair probe into the incident.
Pradhan termed the incident “despicable and painful” and urged Banerjee to ensure strict punishment to the culprits. In a post on X, Pradhan said, “Have learnt that the survivor is receiving medical care. Pray for her earliest recovery. Such shameful incidents and crimes against women have no place in society.” He called upon Banerjee to to ensure a fair probe, swift action and “strictest punishment to the perpetrators of this horrific crime”.
Former Union minister and Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, whose constituency the victim belongs to, launched a scathing attack on the West Bengal government stating the neighbouring state has become increasingly unsafe for people and turned into a paradise for anti-socials and terrorist activities. “Terror-related activities continue there with government patronage. How many more innocent students like this medical student will have to suffer?” he said, in response to Mamata’s remarks that girls should not leave their college premises at night.
Sarangi said that the law and order situation has completely broken down in West Bengal. “Though the Bengal administration claimed to have arrested three persons in connection with the case, even after 36 hours of the incident, the main accused is still at large,” he alleged.
“I will visit West Bengal soon and meet the medical college authorities, police administration and the government to provide justice to the victim by arresting all accused involved, providing her adequate security and compensation to her family,” Sarangi added.
BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda also condemned the incident and urged the West Bengal chief minister to personally intervene and ensure the culprits get the harshest possible punishment.