Another rape, another remark — and once again, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s response has struck where it hurts most. After the recent alleged gangrape of a medical student in the state, Banerjee said, “How did they come out in the night at 12:30? Especially girl child at night. They should not be allowed to go outside. They have to protect themselves also.” She went on to advise the private college to take “responsibility” for students’ security, obliquely by not allowing girls to step out at night. The FIR filed by the survivor’s father, however, claims that the incident occurred in the evening.

This seems to be a familiar pattern. A crime against a woman is often followed by suspicion and moral policing. From the 2012 Park Street rape case, which she once dismissed as “f

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