A 27-year-old event management professional, Suchandra Chattopadhyay, died in a car accident in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district while allegedly racing another vehicle. Initial reports claimed harassment from occupants of the other car prompted high speeds, but police later dismissed these claims, stating CCTV footage showed her car was pursuing the other one. The incident left two of her colleagues injured. Despite allegations of eve-teasing, police found no evidence supporting those claims. Suchandra’s mother expressed concerns over the investigation’s integrity, prompting political reactions regarding women’s safety under current governance. Both vehicles involved have been seized for further investigation.
Panagarh:
A 27-year-old event management professional tragically lost her life in a road accident in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district after her car flipped over while competing with another vehicle on Monday, according to police reports.
Initially, there were allegations that harassment from eve-teasers in another car prompted her to speed up, resulting in the accident. However, a senior official later dismissed this claim, clarifying that her car was actually trailing the other vehicle.
The deceased, identified as Suchandra Chattopadhyay, who lived in Chinsurah, Hooghly district, was en route to a function in Gaya with three colleagues when the incident occurred in Panagarh. Police reported that two of her fellow passengers sustained serious injuries.
Earlier in the day, a senior police official informed PTI that the car had just fuelled at a gas station when a white vehicle occupied by five individuals began to follow them. Upon reaching the highway, “the men in the other car commenced making lewd comments directed at Suchandra while driving dangerously.” However, later that evening, the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate discredited these assertions, asserting that there was no “eve-teasing” or pursuit involved. Instead, they indicated that it was Suchandra’s car that was following the other vehicle.
“There was no eve-teasing in this incident. We have interviewed both the driver and a co-passenger from the victim’s vehicle. Technical analysis from CCTV footage reveals that the victim’s car was indeed chasing the other vehicle. The situation escalated when the victim’s car overtook the other one, resulting in the accident,” stated Asansol-Durgapur Commissioner of Police, Sunil Kumar Choudhary.
“The other vehicle then passed the victim’s car and made its way to a location near the Panagarh Rice Mill, where the occupants reside. The victim’s vehicle continued to pursue them, and during a turn, it overturned,” Choudhary elaborated.
One of the victim’s colleagues, Mintu Mondal, initially claimed to the media that after refuelling at a gas station, a group of intoxicated youths in the white vehicle pursued their car, making vulgar remarks and colliding with their vehicle several times.
According to Mondal, this compelled them to accelerate, ultimately resulting in the accident. He also alleged that the occupants of the white vehicle fled the scene post-crash.
Police indicated that their investigation, supported by CCTV footage, refuted these allegations.
Choudhary mentioned that the footage depicted the victim’s car attempting to overtake the white vehicle before subsequently following it.
At one point, the white vehicle turned into an alley, and while attempting to follow, Suchandra’s car lost control and overturned.
“We have interrogated the driver and the individual who filed a complaint, and based on their testimonies, we conclude that there was no occurrence of eve-teasing,” Choudhary said, noting that no arrests have been made in relation to the incident.
The IPS officer also criticized the media for disseminating “inaccurate news.”
“This is a targeted campaign. It serves only to propagate falsehoods. We intend to investigate the motives behind this,” he remarked.
Following these developments, the victim’s mother expressed her concerns regarding the investigation and accused officials of protecting those responsible.
She travelled from Chandannagar to Asansol to file a complaint at Kanksa Police Station.
“My daughter is deceased, and the individuals in the white vehicle remain at large,” she exclaimed.
The police have confiscated both vehicles and initiated an investigation.
The incident incited strong political reactions, with the BJP criticizing the state’s law and order situation.
“Under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, women in Bengal are unsafe in any environment—be it hospitals or highways! A woman faced harassment and was pursued by miscreants on the highway, culminating in her tragic demise,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar stated in a post on X.
The reference to ‘hospitals’ presumably pertains to the RG Kar hospital rape-murder case involving an on-duty medic last year.
Majumdar contended that West Bengal has become perilous for women. “Every day brings reports of heinous crimes against women, yet the government remains mute, shielding perpetrators rather than administering justice!” He continued, “Mamata Banerjee came into power pledging to protect ‘Maa, Mati, Manush,’ yet under her administration, women endure rape, pursuit, murder, and silencing. Where is her purported ‘woman CM’ image now? Enough of TMC’s jungle rule! Bengal demands safety, justice, and liberation from fear!” In response to his accusations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh urged the opposition to refrain from politicizing the situation.
“The police are fulfilling their duties. They are investigating the case, and we have complete confidence in their efforts. Those questioning the law and order under TMC should examine conditions in BJP-governed states and remember the poor law and order during Left rule in Bengal,” Ghosh remarked.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)