The murder of Behrampore Girls’ College student Sutapa Chowdhury, 21, on May 2 has snowballed into a political issue with Opposition parties in Murshidabad accusing the state government and the Trinamul Congress of promoting lawlessness and not providing adequate security to women.

Sutapa, a third-year BSc student, was murdered on the evening of May 2 on Surya Sen Road in Behrampore town.

Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury, who represents Berhampore in Parliament, said the party would soon launch a campaign demanding “better safety measures for women”.

Speaking to this newspaper, Chowdhury said he was concerned about women’s safety in Behrampore — his home for over 60 years — and reiterated his party’s appeals to the ruling dispensation to address the issue.

“I have never seen such panic as has been stirred by this murder. People now think twice before leaving home after dark. I will appeal to the chief minister for swift redress of the pressing problem,” he said.

Residents of Gorabazar — the larger part of Behrampore where the murder occurred — echoed Chowdhury’s sentiment, but some saw it as an isolated incident.

Authorities at the Behrampore Girls’ Collegerefuted claims that the incident has triggered panic among its 3,000-odd students.

“It was unfortunate what happened, and had nothing to do with the college per se, but we are taking steps for the future nonetheless,” said principal Hena Sinha.