‘Her life is in danger’: Durgapur rape victim’s father appeals to government to shift daughter to Bhubaneswar

The survivor, a second-year MBBS student, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Durgapur.

His parents, residents of Jaleshwar in Balasore district, reached West Bengal after receiving information about the incident.

“I appeal to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to help shift my daughter to Bhubaneswar. I fear that her life may be in danger,” the father told PTI over phone from Durgapur on Sunday.

The Dalit woman was allegedly raped by three men when she went out of the campus with a male student around 8 pm on Friday, officials said.

The student’s father said the family felt unsafe in West Bengal and were “too scared to trust anyone”.

He said, “They (not taking any names) will kill my daughter. Her health condition has improved, but her life is in danger. I cannot trust them.”

“I am hiding in Durgapur while my diabetic wife is standing by our daughter’s bedside in the hospital,” he said.

Acting on Majhi’s instructions, a team of Balasore officials visited the hospital on Saturday, following which the father appealed to the Odisha government, who spoke to him over phone the same night.

Asked about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s alleged comment that girls should not go out of the premises at night, the father said, “This is completely false. I see an attempt to suppress this incident. My daughter did not go out at midnight – it was just 8 o’clock on Friday.” He further alleged that the surviving woman had gone out with a male companion who fled from the spot during the attack and did not alert anyone.

“She was attacked between 8 pm and 9 pm. Her male companion ran away and neither raised alarm nor sought help. The miscreants dragged her to a forest area and did unspeakable acts on her,” he claimed.

Additional District Magistrate of Balasore, Hemant Singh, who visited the hospital, said, “West Bengal Police has arrested three people within 36 hours of the incident. We are satisfied and hope that the victim will get justice.” A four-member team of Balasore district administration, including District Social Welfare Officer Jyotsna Mohanty, also met the family.

Mohanty said, “The condition of the survivor is gradually improving. We have assured the family that the Odisha government stands firmly with them. Necessary coordination is being maintained with the West Bengal Police.”

Meanwhile, BJP MP Pratap Sarangi came down heavily on the Banerjee government and held the chief minister responsible for the ‘complete breakdown’ of law and order in the state.