Fifth Arrest in Durgapur Odia Medical Student Gang-Rape Case

Durgapur: The West Bengal Police have arrested a fifth suspect in the alleged gang-rape of a medical student from Odisha in Durgapur, the Asansol Durgapur-Police Commissionerate said on Monday, as reported by The Statesman.

With this arrest, five people are now in custody in the case that has triggered public outrage and a fresh political storm in the state.

Earlier, Apu Bauri, Sheikh Firdous, and Sheikh Riyazuddin were arrested and remanded to 10-day police custody. The fourth accused, SK Nasiruddin, an employee of the Durgapur Municipal Corporation, was nabbed on Sunday night and will be produced in court on Monday.

The incident took place late Friday night when the second-year MBBS student was allegedly assaulted in a forested area near her college campus. According to police, she had gone out for dinner with a male friend when the accused chased him away and attacked the girl. She was later rescued and is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Political tensions have flared following Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s comments questioning why the student was out late at night, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju for being “insensitive.” Odisha Deputy CM Pravati Parida has also slammed the insensitive statement of Mamata.