Mamata Banerjee urges girls to follow rules, sparks backlash

Kolkata: Vowing to take "stringent action against the culprits", CM Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said in Kolkata that women hostel boarders should not venture out late at night and abide by the hostel rules.

"Students should avoid venturing out late at night and have to protect themselves. This is a forest area. Although they have the fundamental right to go wherever they want," she said.

The CM added that stringent action will be taken against the perpetrators. "In Bengal, we have zero-tolerance on violence. I have told the police to take stringent action."