Why Are Odisha Leaders Across Parties Condemning Durgapur Gang-Rape and Demanding Harsh Punishment?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Political leaders demand swift justice.
- Four suspects arrested in connection with the crime.
- Incident raises safety concerns for women in India.
- BJD, Congress, and BJP leaders unite in condemnation.
- Calls for a thorough investigation into the case.
Bhubaneswar, Oct 12 (NationPress) Political leaders from various parties in Odisha have called upon the West Bengal government to impose the most severe consequences on those responsible for the gang-rape of a medical student from Jaleswar, Balasore district, which took place in Durgapur on Friday.
In a press conference, senior BJD leader and Jaleswar MLA Aswini Kumar Patra stated, "The West Bengal government must undertake a comprehensive investigation into this incident and ensure that the individuals involved in the gang-rape face strict punishment. This incident is highly sensitive, and it is crucial that the offenders receive the harshest penalties; otherwise, society will face a swift moral decline."
The president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), Bhakta Charan Das, also condemned the horrific gang-rape of the Odia student in Durgapur. "I express profound sorrow and denounce the gang-rape of the student from Odisha. We demand the immediate capture of all suspects and severe penalties. I will instruct the Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress to take necessary actions in this matter," said Das on Sunday.
Senior BJP leader and Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sadangi claimed that neighboring West Bengal has become a refuge for anti-social elements and terrorists. He stated, "The West Bengal government has consistently shown leniency towards such individuals. How many more innocent girls and medical students, who are the nation's assets, will have to suffer? The Balasore administration is vigilant regarding this issue, and I fully trust the Odisha Chief Minister to ensure that justice is served by pressuring the West Bengal government," said Sadangi.
Reports indicate that four suspects have been apprehended by the West Bengal Police in relation to the gang-rape of the second-year medical student from a private medical college and hospital in West Burdwan district's Durgapur.
The police reported that the student had left the campus with a male companion for dinner on Friday night when a group of young men on motorcycles began to stalk them and make inappropriate comments. The men allegedly chased the friend away, dragged the student to a wooded area behind the campus, and gang-raped her.
They also stole her mobile phone and discarded it. The male friend returned with others from the college and discovered the injured student on the ground. She was taken to a local hospital. Police confirmed she hails from Jaleswar, Odisha.