The father of the 23-year-old medical student who was allegedly raped in Durgapur has described West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a “mother-like figure,” urging her to forgive him and ensure justice for his daughter.
His latest comments come just two days after he had sharply criticised Banerjee’s earlier remarks on women’s safety and claimed that West Bengal was under “Aurangzeb’s rule.”
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the father said,
“Mamata Banerjee is like a mother-like figure to me. If I have said anything wrong, I ask her to forgive me. I will render countless obeisances at her feet. But I ask her to help my daughter get justice.”
The ‘Aurangzeb Rule’ Controversy
On Monday, the victim’s father had expressed anger over Banerjee’s statement suggesting that “women should not venture out at night.” Responding to this, he had remarked,
“It seems Bengal is under the rule of Aurangzeb. I want to take my daughter back to Odisha. Her life comes first, career later.”
He reiterated his plan to take his daughter home to Odisha once doctors declared her fit for travel. The father also demanded that the case be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), adding,
“I think that would be good. But that depends on the state administration as well.”
The Durgapur Rape Case
The second-year MBBS student was allegedly raped on the evening of October 10 after stepping out of her private medical college campus with a male classmate to fetch food.
The investigation into the incident took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after Bengal Police arrested the victim’s male classmate — the sixth person to be taken into custody — and claimed that the assault may have been committed by a single accused.
According to police, six individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the case, including the victim’s friend, whose role came under scrutiny after investigators found “glaring inconsistencies” in his statements.
The arrested classmate, a resident of Malda district, was detained on October 11 and formally arrested on Tuesday.
Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissioner Sunil Kumar Choudhary ruled out gangrape, stating,
“Investigation and medical reports have so far indicated the involvement of only one person. The roles of the others are being reviewed. The friend of the victim is not above suspicion.”
The case has triggered a massive political storm in West Bengal, with opposition parties targeting the Trinamool Congress government over women’s safety and police investigation lapses.
Durgapur Rape Case: Victim’s Father Seeks Mamata Banerjee’s Forgiveness After ‘Aurangzeb’s Rule’ Remark
