Odisha medical student gang-rape case: Three arrested after 36 hours in Durgapur, 2 accused still absconding

Three persons have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang-rape of an Odia medical student near a private medical college in Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal.

The arrests came 36 hours after the horrific incident, though police have not yet revealed the identities of the accused. The Durgapur Police Commissioner confirmed that further interrogation is underway to determine the sequence of events and the involvement of additional suspects.

Crime In A Secluded Area

According to reports, the crime reportedly took place late Friday night in a relatively isolated forested stretch behind the hospital building near Shobhapur. Due to the terrain, police vehicles were unable to reach the spot, and investigators had to inspect the site on foot.

Preliminary findings suggest that the survivor, a second-year MBBS student from Jaleswar in Balasore district, had stepped out of the campus with a male friend to get food when four to five men allegedly started following them. The men allegedly attacked the pair, dragged the girl away from her companion, and committed the assault before fleeing.

The Durgapur Police Commissioner met both the survivor and her male friend, who remains in police custody for questioning. Investigators are also reviewing CCTV footage from nearby locations and verifying statements from college security personnel and witnesses.

ALSO READ: Odisha medical student gang-rape: CM Mohan Majhi urges West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for exemplary action

Protests And Public Outrage

The shocking assault triggered widespread protests across the Durgapur medical campus on Saturday, with hundreds of students demanding immediate arrests and stricter safety measures for women.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of the case and sent a special team to Durgapur to meet the survivor and monitor the progress of the police investigation.

Family Alleges Negligence And Threats

The survivor’s father, who arrived in Durgapur on Saturday, alleged that hospital authorities have provided no assistance or information since the incident.

Expressing frustration, he said on Saturday that the family has been left in the dark and accused the West Bengal government of inaction. He also claimed that attempts are being made to divert attention from the case and alleged receiving threats to his life.

Meanwhile, the survivor, currently under treatment at a hospital in Durgapur, is said to be in a stable condition, with medical teams from both West Bengal and Odisha monitoring her recovery. A special team from Balasore that visited the hospital on Saturday reported gradual improvement in her health.