Panagarh: In a tragic incident on National Highway 2 in West Bengal's Panagarh, 27-year-old Sutandra Chatterjee, a dancer and event manager from Chandernagore, was killed when her car overturned following a high-speed pursuit. The accident occurred around 12:30 am as she traveled to Gaya, Bihar for work, reportedly being chased by five intoxicated men in a Hyundai Creta.

West Bengal Police attributed the crash to road rage, dismissing eve-teasing claims. Hyundai driver Rajdoot Sharma reported his car was hit twice, resulting in a fatal overturn. Witnesses described a 10km chase with aggressive behaviour. Police held Chatterjee's car responsible for trying to overtake.

Investigation Underway

Following the crash, West Bengal Police ruled it a case of road rage, denying allegations of eve-teasing. The driver of the Hyundai, Rajdoot Sharma, stated that his vehicle was struck twice by another car, leading to the fatal overturning.

Witnesses noted aggressive behavior from the occupants of the other car, describing a 10km chase with multiple collisions. However, police maintained that Chatterjee's car was at fault for attempting to overtake the Hyundai and causing the accident.

At least two of Chatterjee’s colleagues were injured, while she sustained fatal injuries. The police have confiscated both vehicles involved, although no arrests have been made yet. Chatterjee, who was the primary provider for her family after her father’s death, operated her own event company, Moonwalk.

Following the incident, her mother, Tanushree, rejected the police's version of events and called for immediate action.

Political Spin: BJP VS TMC

The situation has ignited political tensions in Bengal, with leaders from the BJP criticizing the ruling Trinamool Congress for its failure to ensure women's safety.

Kunal Ghosh, a representative of the Trinamool Congress, has dismissed allegations linking the recent tragic death of a woman to the party, asserting that certain individuals are misrepresenting the incident. He acknowledged the gravity of sexual harassment claims but insisted that the tragedy was due to a traffic mishap rather than a failure of law and order.

His remarks came in response to sharp criticism from Dr. Majumdar of the BJP, who condemned Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her lack of action against increasing violence against women in West Bengal. Dr. Majumdar characterized the state as a "living hell," referencing incidents of harassment, including one where a woman was pursued on a national highway, ultimately leading to her demise.

In a video response, Ghosh stressed that there was no evidence linking the woman's death to sexual harassment, asserting that the narrative was fabricated by political opponents, mainly the BJP.

He clarified that the incident was an overtaking accident and urged the public to follow traffic laws, emphasizing that while police cannot be everywhere, citizens must act responsibly on highways. The Trinamool leader condemned any misrepresentation of the tragedy's circumstances and advocated for accountability should the allegations of sexual harassment be substantiated.