Bengal: Woman dies of accident after her car 'chased away' by drunk men in SUV on NH-19, police reject claim

Sutandra Chatterjee, a 26-year-old event manager from Hooghly, died after her car hit a public toilet and overturned in Panagarh, Kanksa at 1 am after the vehicle was chased by the men.

Chatterjee was travelling along with four others including the driver of the car as they were on their way to Gaya.

While two co-passengers suffered minor injuries, the two others including the driver were unhurt.

Rajdoot Sharma, the driver, claimed he was trying to drive away his car facing the lewd comments from the men in the SUV.

Sharma added that the car started chasing his vehicle after they had stopped at a petrol pump in Pursha for fuel.

As Sharma allegedly took a left turn on the highway to escape, he lost control over the Tiago car and hit the wall causing the overturn.

However, Asansol-Durgapur police commissioner Sunil Kumar Choudhury rejected the allegations and said the woman died due to the racing between the two cars.

"No lewd behaviour or harassment was reported to us. We have learnt from CCTV footage that the blue Tiago of the deceased was chasing the white SUV," Choudhury said as quoted by The Telegraph.

"The deceased was going to Gaya but, surprisingly, instead of taking NH19 — which is the easier route — the car of the deceased suddenly took the old GT Road in Panagarh while following the SUV. However, the woman died in the accident, which is unfortunate," he added.

Training her guns at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Agnimitra Paul said, "Another Tragic Loss Due to Mamata Banerjee’s Lawlessness! A young woman in Panagarh lost her life as her car overturned while trying to escape a roadside harasser. This horrifying incident exposes the grim reality of women’s safety in West Bengal.

"Under TMC rule, goons roam freely, while women live in fear. Mamata Banerjee’s police, busy protecting criminals and silencing opposition voices, have failed to ensure basic safety for women. How many more lives must be lost before this anarchy ends? Bengal deserves security, not terror! Time to reclaim law and order. "

In a counter remark, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Police after a complete investigation found that it was a case of overtaking. So the issues like eve-teasing, harassment of women are not linked. The incident has no link to the overall law and administration or police's failure."

"Some people have tried to plant the theory of harassment of women in the case," added Ghosh.