In Durgapur, West Bengal, a grim case of gang‑rape has sparked a sharp response from the National Commission for Women (NCW). The commission’s fact‑finding report, released on Tuesday, slammed the West Bengal police for serious procedural and security failures in handling the investigation of the assault on a second‑year medical student from Odisha.
The NCW said police failed to cordon off the crime scene, even by October 12, which made it easy for evidence to be tampered with. The report also noted that no proper forensic examination took place at the place of occurrence. “These procedural lapses show gross negligence by the local authorities,” the commission warned.
Archana Majumdar, an NCW member, wrote the preliminary report after meeting the victim, her parents and other witnesses. She highlighted a deeper problem: “The incident reveals systemic failures in safety and accountability within institutions,” she said. “Lack of preventive security measures, poor surveillance and investigative mishandling point to serious governance gaps that need immediate correcting.”
The NCW will keep monitoring the case, ensuring the victim receives proper medical care and support for her academic life until justice is served. It also drew attention to the road leading from the hospital through a densely wooded area that stays completely dark at night, lacking street lights and cameras. “This is a grave administrative failure,” the commission said. “A major medical institution that trains over a thousand female students and staff should not lack basic security infrastructure.”
Police activity in the area appears to have been minimal, despite the district’s reputation for anti‑social behavior. The state had earlier launched the “Raatri’r Saathi” project, a nighttime safety initiative, after a similar claim of violence. However, the NCW says the program has not worked in this region.
According to police, the victim’s complaint led to the arrest of all five accused, who are now in custody. A male friend of the victim has also been detained and is cooperating with the investigation.
The NCW’s findings call for urgent action to tighten investigative procedures and improve nighttime safety measures in Durgapur, to help prevent future incidents of sexual assault.
Source: ianslive
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