Written by Tanusree BoseKolkata | October 14, 2025 12:46 PM IST 4 min readNCW member Archana Majumdar — who visited Durgapur and met the victim, her parents, and the attending doctors on October 11 — has submitted a fact-finding report to the Commission. (Photo: X/@ANI)The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of the alleged gang rape of a second-year MBBS student of a private medical college in Durgapur late on Friday night (October 10). A fact-finding report by a NCW member states that the “absence of preventive security measures, inadequate surveillance, and procedural lapses” in investigation reflect “serious governance shortcomings” that require urgent rectification.While the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate has already arrested five persons and further investigation is underway, NCW member Archana Majumdar — who visited Durgapur and met the victim, her parents, and the attending doctors on October 11 — has submitted a fact-finding report to the Commission.The NCW directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to submit a comprehensive security audit report of the private medical college to the NCW within a month, including details of CCTV coverage, functionality, and student welfare measures.Also Read | How a phone call led to arrest of 3 men in Bengal gangrape caseAccording to Majumdar’s report, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, the victim stated that she and her male friend had gone out to buy dinner when they noticed three men on a motorcycle following them. Initially, her friend allegedly ignored the men, assuming they would leave, but when the motorcycle “continued to follow them”, they panicked and ran towards a wooded area. The male friend “managed to escape”, but the girl was allegedly raped by one of the accused.Majumdar wrote that she had visited the crime spot, observing that “the road leading from the hospital passes through a densely wooded area that remains completely dark at night. There is a total absence of street lighting and surveillance, making it unsafe for pedestrians, particularly women.”It alleges that the medical institution, “employing and training over a thousand female students and healthcare professionals, lacks even basic security infrastructure… No evidence of regular police patrolling was found, despite the area being commonly known for anti-social and criminal activities. The State government had previously announced the “Raatri’r Saathi” project following the RG Kar incident to ensure the safety of women traveling at night; however, the initiative appeared to be non-functional in this region.”Must Read | ‘Can’t say Bengal is safe for girls’: Governor Bose after meeting ‘gang-rape’ victim, familyMajumdar has listed 11 recommendations in her report. Among them is for the hospital to ensure free and high-quality medical treatment for the victim, with the option of shifting her to AIIMS Kalyani, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, or another hospital of her family’s choice if needed.Story continues below this adShe also recommended that the victim be provided academic relief, as she “may miss her upcoming Physiology examination scheduled for October 15-16 due to trauma”. The NMC and the university were recommended to arrange a special examination to “prevent academic loss”.Regarding safety infrastructure, the report suggests “setting up” a police assistance booth or outpost within the hospital campus to ensure round-the-clock security. It also recommends that all entry and exit gates maintain registers of student movement, and hostel superintendents monitor students’ outings and return timings.The report calls for the installation of proper lighting and CCTV cameras along the connecting road, as well as the establishment of food outlets and other essential facilities within the college campus to minimise the need for students to step out at night.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:rapeWest Bengal