"If girls are not safe in a state with a woman CM, it seems ridiculous": Annapurna Devi on Durgapur rape

Dumka (Jharkhand) [India], October 12 (ANI): Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Sunday strongly criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks following the alleged gangrape of a medical student in Durgapur, calling the comments "ridiculous" and accusing the state government of "protecting criminals" instead of improving law and order.
The incident involves a second-year student of a private medical college in Durgapur. The survivor hails from Jaleswar, Odisha.
Addressing ANI, Annapurna Devi said, " This is not the first incident in West Bengal and it is certainly a tragic incident... It seems that criminals there are fearless, and no prompt action is being taken by the government... If the girls are not safe in a state where there is a woman CM and the CM's statement is that women should not step out of the house, then it seems ridiculous... You should improve the law and order... It is unfortunate that such incidents continue to occur. It seems that the government is providing protection to criminals..."
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the incident and advised private medical colleges not to allow girls to go outside at night after the alleged gangrape of a medical student in Durgapur.
"I'm shocked to see the incident, but private medical colleges also should take care of their students, and especially girls. The girls should not be allowed to go outside (college) at night. They have to protect themselves also. There is a forest area. Police are searching all the people," Mamata Banerjee said.
Mamata Banerjee condemned the incident and assured that strong action would be taken against the perpetrators.
"Nobody will be excused. Whoever is guilty will be punished strictly. Three people have already been arrested. We will take stringent action... When it happens in other states, it is also condemnable," she said.
The West Bengal CM drew parallels with crimes in other states, questioning the silence over them.
"Three weeks ago, three girls were raped on the beach in Odisha. What action is being taken by the Odisha government?. Such incidents have taken place in Manipur, UP, Bihar, Odisha; we also think the government must take stringent action there," she said.
Meanwhile, three accused have been arrested in the alleged gangrape case of a medical student in West Bengal's Durgapur. They were presented before the court today.
Speaking to reporters, Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate DCP Abhishek Gupta said, "Three persons have been arrested so far. They have been forwarded to the Court today. Further investigation is ongoing, and everything is going according to the protocol. All investigation is taking place..."
According to the student's father, she stepped out with a classmate to get something to eat. However, two or three other men arrived and raped her. The classmate, he said then "abandoned her and fled."
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of a distressing incident reported from West Bengal, where a young medical student from Odisha was allegedly subjected to gang-rape in Durgapur. (ANI)