Durgapur gang rape 'a cry for accountability’; doctors demand strict investigation, campus security

The Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association(APJUDA) has condemned the brutal gang rape of a 2nd-year medical student from Odisha, studying at IQ City Medical College, Durgapur, West Bengal. The doctor’s group has demanded a fair and time-bound investigation into the case and immediate campus security.

According to the official APJUDA statement, the survivor had gone out with her friend for dinner in the evening hours, yet the chief minister of West Bengal questioned ‘how the student left the camp at midnight.’

West Bengal CM previously said that female boarders, especially those from outside the state, should follow hostel rules and not venture out late at night. She also said private colleges must ensure security within and around their campuses, as per PTI reports.

The doctor’s group says the CM’s statement not only misrepresents the facts but insensitive, and places the burden of justification on the survivor rather than the perpetrators.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened in your state. Last year, at RG Kar Medical College, a woman doctor was raped and murdered — that should have been a serious warning. But here we are again — another woman harmed, another institution staying silent, and more empty promises being made.

APJUDA: Doctors' group demands accountability

The doctor’s group demands urgent attention to the ‘systemic failure.’

• A swift, transparent, and impartial investigation must be conducted, free from political influence or institutional cover-up, with strict punishment for all those found guilty.
• Immediate safety audits should be carried out on campuses and in surrounding public areas.
• Mandatory installation and proper functioning of CCTV cameras, adequate lighting, panic buttons, and rapid response systems in and around college and hospital premises.

“APJUDA stands firmly with the survivor - with empathy, in solidarity, and in unwavering demand for justice,” the official APJUDA statement reads. The Durgapur gang-rape of Odisha medical student has sparked outrage among the public. Till now, five arrests have been made based on the complaint filed.