The West Bengal Police on Monday announced the arrest of the fifth and final named accused in connection with the Durgapur gang-rape case. The total number of arrests now stands at five.

The latest person apprehended was identified as Sheikh Safiqul, a local resident. Police located and nabbed Safiqul in Durgapur, where he had reportedly been hiding at a relative’s residence.

Alleged Gang-Rape in Durgapur

The case involves the alleged gang-rape of a second-year medical student from Odisha, which occurred late on Friday night near her private medical college and hospital campus in Durgapur.

According to the complaint lodged with the police, the incident unfolded after the student and a male friend had gone out for dinner. A group of men on motorcycles allegedly intercepted them, harassing the student with lewd remarks. The assailants then reportedly chased away her male friend before forcibly dragging the female student into a nearby forested area. She was allegedly gang-raped over there. The perpetrators also snatched her mobile phone and discarded it before escaping from the scene.

The student was later found injured by her friend, who returned to the spot with other students, and she was immediately admitted to a local hospital for treatment. The male friend remains in police detention and is currently being questioned to corroborate his account of the events.

Court Proceedings and Investigation

Safiqul and another suspect, Sheikh Nasiruddin, who was arrested on Sunday night, are scheduled to be presented before the Durgapur Sub-Divisional Court later today. The police plan to request their custody for further interrogation.

Earlier on Sunday, three other named individuals—Sheikh Reajuddin, Firdos Sheikh, and Apu Bauri—were arrested and remanded to 10-day police custody.

With all five accused now in custody, investigators are preparing to conduct a joint interrogation of the suspects. Furthermore, a crucial step in the investigation will be a planned reconstruction of the crime at the scene in the forested area near the medical college. Police sources also indicated that necessary forensic and medical tests are being arranged for all the accused.

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