After a woman levelled allegations on Saturday that she was raped inside a hostel on the premises of the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta, political parties pointed to the “worsening” law and order situation in West Bengal, and “lapse in security” in a central educational institute.

A second-year student of the IIM-C has been arrested and the police have charged the accused under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including rape, and seized his clothes and phone for forensic examination. Four others have also been detained and are being questioned.

BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said the Director of the institute has been “asked to submit a report”.

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Alleging that “law and order is a state subject,” Majumdar said, “It is a very sad incident, and it has happened inside the hostel of a centralised institution. So from the Centre’s side as law and order is a state subject, we have told the police to take strict steps. Whatever steps need to be taken the police have to take. It may be a central institute, but I can show that whoever gets contracts everything is run by the TMC. It’s a central institute, but due to the TMC we are unable to run it properly.” he said.

Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that “the cases of rape are rising throughout Bengal.”

“The women of Bengal are facing the brunt of lawlessness and the atrocities against women are rising. Whether government or private colleges, the security of women is being questioned. The law and order situation in Bengal is deteriorating and the state is not taking any steps which is resulting in criminals to think of this state as a safe haven,” he said, adding, “The state government should take stringent measures to prevent such crimes and stringent punishment should be given to such criminals.”

“It is an internationally renowned institute, it is a shame that this has happened, Bengal will now be famous for such incidents. Previously, the Chief Minister has tried to cover up such incidents, which is why miscreants think of Bengal as a safe haven. Why is the Chief minister silent now at least now? She should protest, as this is not a state-run institution, it is a national institution,” CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty told The Indian Express.

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Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations by the opposition parties, Trinamool Congress (TMC) state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, “Any political party should exercise caution before making conclusive remarks on this matter. Society is larger than the scope of politicising an incident immediately after it occurs. The place where the incident took place is a central institution, not a state-run one. Proper security measures should have been in place.”

Referring to the father’s remarks on the incident, Ghosh said, “… If someone wishes to file a complaint, they may do so… it is up to them.”