West Bengal has long projected itself as one of India’s safest regions for women. Kolkata, often described as a city of intellect and culture, routinely ranks high in safety perception surveys. According to the 2023 NCRB report, Kolkata has been ranked as the safest Indian city for the fourth consecutive year, recording the lowest number of cognisable offences per lakh population. Ironically, the survey also shows a decline in crimes against women. Yet, behind this reassuring record lies a growing crisis. Female students across the state are feeling increasingly unsafe, unheard, and unprotected. The brutal gang rape of a young medical student from Odisha in Durgapur this October has ripped apart the illusion of student safety in West Bengal. The 23-year-old, studying at a private medic

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