West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday asked why the medical student in Durgapur who was allegedly gang-raped on October 10 went out of her hostel after midnight, The Indian Express reported.

The chief minister’s remarks sparked a sharp backlash, with the Bharatiya Janata Party accusing her of victim-blaming.

The second-year MBBS student at a private college in Durgapur was allegedly gang-raped near the campus after she went out with a male friend. The police have arrested three men and are searching for two others.

Addressing the media on Sunday, Banerjee questioned as to whose responsibility it was to ensure the safety of the students at the college.

“How did she come out at 12.30 am?,” The Indian Express quoted Banerjee as saying. “As far as I know, it happ

See Full Page