Kolkata: Investigators probing the alleged gang rape of a medical student in Durgapur have revealed that the survivor was in a romantic relationship with one of the six arrested accused, police sources said on Thursday.

According to officials, the survivor and the accused—her classmate—had gone out of the college campus together on the night of October 10 when the assault took place. The man, the last to be arrested in the case, reportedly planned the meeting with her that evening.

“The survivor was in a relationship with the arrested friend. We have gathered sufficient evidence to establish that. Their WhatsApp interactions also support this,” an investigating officer said.

Both the survivor and her friend told police they had gone to a forested area near a cremation ground that night.

According to their account, three miscreants followed them and later attacked them inside the jungle. “The situation changed drastically within moments,” the officer added.

However, investigators said the two have changed their statements multiple times, raising suspicions of a deliberate attempt to mislead the investigation.

On Thursday, police once again cordoned off the crime scene in the forested area for further examination. “Although part of the site had already been sealed earlier, an additional section was secured today,” an officer confirmed.

Throughout the day, all six accused—including the survivor’s classmate—were subjected to multiple rounds of interrogation. At one stage, investigators brought them face-to-face for cross-examination, officials said.

The survivor, originally from Odisha, and her friend are both second-year students at a private medical college in Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman district.