Chargesheet Filed in Durgapur Medical Student Gang-Rape Case: What Happens Next?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Chargesheet filed within 20 days of the incident.
- Six accused named, facing serious charges.
- Survivor identified the main perpetrator in a Test Identification parade.
- Case set for fast-track trial to ensure justice.
- Community outrage highlights the need for systemic change.
Kolkata, Oct 30 (NationPress) On Thursday, authorities submitted a chargesheet to the Durgapur Sub-Divisional Court regarding the alleged gang-rape of a second-year medical student, occurring 20 days prior, as confirmed by an official source.
Reports indicate that the chargesheet identifies six individuals as accused, encompassing various allegations such as rape, gang-rape, and extortion. Notably, the student's classmate and boyfriend, who was present that night, faces rape charges, while three others are implicated in gang-rape and two others face extortion charges.
After the chargesheet was filed, the court mandated that the case be prioritized for a swift trial.
Special Public Prosecutor Bibhas Chatterjee remarked on the police's rapid completion of the investigation, stating, “The chargesheet was crafted following a thorough and prompt investigation. We presented it to the court today. This represents a significant milestone for the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate. We anticipate that the trial will conclude within two months,” Chatterjee informed reporters.
All six accused, currently in judicial custody, are scheduled to appear before the Durgapur court again on Friday for additional hearings.
Police sources disclosed that the survivor, originally from Odisha, participated in a Test Identification (TI) parade recently, where she successfully identified five of the suspects arrested from a nearby village close to the private medical college. She identified one of them as the principal perpetrator and provided detailed accounts of each individual's involvement during the assault.
Following the identification, the survivor returned to her home in Odisha. Authorities mentioned she might return to Durgapur if her testimony is necessary during the trial.
Earlier this week, the TI parade report was submitted to the Durgapur court, confirming that Sheikh Firdous had assaulted the victim on the night of October 10.
However, the survivor's attorney contended that in addition to Firdous, five others, including the victim's classmate and boyfriend, were implicated in the assault “in some capacity.”
This harrowing incident transpired on the night of October 10, when the second-year medical student was allegedly gang-raped in a wooded area near a private medical college and hospital in Durgapur, situated in the West Burdwan district.
Following the survivor's complaint, police apprehended five men shortly after the incident. Investigators later determined that one individual directly executed the assault while others played various roles. Subsequently, the victim's boyfriend was also arrested after inconsistencies emerged in his statements during questioning.
This case, which has incited outrage among students and women's organizations in the area, is now poised for expedited trial proceedings as per the court's directive.