The alleged rape of a second-year medical student in Durgapur has triggered outrage across West Bengal — and a fresh political storm.

New details from the private medical college’s statement have raised troubling questions about what transpired on the night of the incident.

According to the college authorities, the 22-year-old student, originally from Odisha, left the campus with her classmate at 7.58 pm on Friday.

She returned alone at 8.42 pm, wandered near the gate for a few minutes, and then left again shortly after. She came back at 9.29 pm with her classmate and entered her hostel two minutes later.

This timeline suggests that the student was outside the campus for nearly an hour and a half in total, on two separate occasions that night.

Based on this, investigators are now examining whether the alleged gang rape occurred during those time windows.

The student later told police she was harassed and then dragged into a nearby forest area, where she was gang-raped by a group of unidentified men.

She was hospitalised immediately after alerting her hostel mates, and police have since arrested and questioned her classmate. A case has been filed against unidentified assailants.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken cognisance of the case. NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to the state’s Director General of Police, urging a fair and swift investigation. Member Archana Majumdar visited the victim in the hospital and assured her of full support.

Meanwhile, the BJP launched street protests in Durgapur, with supporters gheraoing the New Township police station.

BJP leaders, including MLA Laxman Ghorui and Agnimitra Pal, accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of presiding over a breakdown in law and order.

“Whether it’s RG Kar or Durgapur, raping doctors has become a trend in this state,” said Pal. “Criminals know they’re protected under Trinamool rule.”

State Minister Shashi Panja, however, dismissed the BJP’s remarks as “political opportunism,” saying, “The police have acted immediately. The victim’s parents have faith in the probe. BJP is only trying to politicize the pain of a woman.”

The case comes months after the RG Kar and law college rape cases, both of which sparked statewide protests. Now, Durgapur appears to be the new flashpoint — both for justice and politics.