<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A second-year MBBS student from IQ City Medical College in Durgapur was allegedly gang-raped by a group of unidentified men on the night of October 10, 2025, near the campus in the Shivapur area of Paschim Bardhaman district. The incident, which has drawn parallels to the RG Kar tragedy in Kolkata, has sparked outrage and renewed demands for women&rsquo;s safety in West Bengal&rsquo;s educational institutions.</span><br><br>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The victim, a 20- to 23-year-old from Jaleswar, Odisha, left the campus around 8:30 PM with a male classmate to have dinner nearby. According to police and family accounts, three to five men accosted the pair near the college gate, separated the student from her friend, snatched her mobile phone, and dragged her to a wooded area behind the campus. There, she was brutally assaulted and threatened with severe consequences if she reported the crime. The attackers also demanded Rs 3,000 to return her phone. The assault occurred between 8:30 PM and 10:00 PM. Friends alerted her parents, who rushed to Durgapur, arriving Saturday morning. The survivor is now stable and receiving treatment at a local hospital.</span><br><br>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The victim&rsquo;s father expressed anguish, stating, &ldquo;We chose this college for its academic reputation, but the security is inadequate.&rdquo; The family, alleging a delayed police response, filed an FIR at the New Township Police Station under gang-rape charges. No arrests have been made, though police are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning witnesses, including the classmate. Forensic teams have collected evidence from the site. The West Bengal Health Department has sought a report from the college, and a National Commission for Women team is en route to meet the survivor.</span><br><br>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The incident has triggered protests in Durgapur and Balasore, with citizens demanding justice and stricter campus security. On X, users have condemned the state&rsquo;s safety record, with hashtags like #JusticeForWomen trending. BJP leaders, including Sukanta Majumdar, criticized the TMC government, calling West Bengal a &ldquo;nightmare for women&rsquo;s safety.&rdquo; TMC Minister Sashi Panja assured that the police are investigating, and the victim&rsquo;s family expressed cautious faith in the probe.</span><br><br>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coming on the heels of the August 2024 RG Kar rape and murder case, this assault underscores persistent concerns about women&rsquo;s safety in West Bengal&rsquo;s medical institutions. As the investigation continues, pressure mounts on authorities to deliver justice and implement robust safety measures to prevent such tragedies.</span></div>
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MBBS student assaulted near IQ City Medical College, sparking outrage and safety demands

Medical Student Gang-Raped Near College

MBBS student assaulted near IQ City Medical College, sparking outrage and safety demands

October 11, 2025 | 18:10 IST