Priyanka Tiwari
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A horrific crime in Kolkata has escalated into a major political showdown, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a blistering attack on West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over the alleged gang rape of a law student. The incident has once again put the spotlight on women's safety in the state, with the BJP accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of fostering an environment of lawlessness.
The case involves a first-year student at a private law college in Kolkata. According to her police complaint, she was lured to a flat by a classmate under a false pretext. There, she was allegedly drugged and brutally gang-raped by four fellow students. The perpetrators reportedly filmed the assault and threatened to release the video online if she reported the crime.
Following the complaint, Kolkata Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) and have arrested one of the accused, who is reported to be an activist with the TMC's student wing, the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP). A search is currently underway for the other three suspects who remain at large.
The incident triggered an immediate and fierce reaction from the BJP. Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's IT cell, took to social media to condemn the government, stating, "West Bengal is not safe for women. The horror of RG Kar hasn't faded, and now a first-year law student has been gang-raped." His reference to the RG Kar Medical College case, another recent incident of violence, was a clear attempt to establish a pattern of government failure.
Malviya further alleged that the police were attempting to "hush up" the case due to the accused's political connections, calling the state "lawless" under Mamata Banerjee's leadership.
Other senior BJP leaders echoed these sentiments. Union Minister Shantanu Thakur expressed his shock and demanded a thorough investigation, while Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari called for the case to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an impartial probe. Adhikari claimed that the state police could not be trusted to deliver justice, especially when a member of the ruling party's student wing is implicated.
As the police continue their manhunt for the remaining accused, the crime has moved beyond a personal tragedy to become a symbol of the intense political conflict in West Bengal. The BJP is leveraging the incident to corner the TMC on its law-and-order record, while the victim's fight for justice unfolds amidst a raging political blame game.
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