Bengali Actor Payel Mukherjee Allegedly Attacked in Kolkata Amid Ongoing Protests

Bengali actor Payel Mukherjee was allegedly attacked by a biker in Kolkata, amidst ongoing protests over a recent rape-murder case. The incident, captured on video, has sparked political controversy and intensified concerns about women's safety in the city, adding to the debate surrounding the RG Kar Hospital case.

Bengali actor Payel Mukherjee reported being attacked by a bike-borne assailant while driving her car in Kolkata on Friday night. The incident occurred on Southern Avenue, against the backdrop of ongoing protests in the city over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

Mukherjee shared a video on social media detailing the harrowing experience. According to her account, a young man on a two-wheeler stopped in front of her SUV and demanded she exit the vehicle. When she refused, fearing for her safety, the assailant reportedly smashed her car's right-side window, injuring her hand and leaving her visibly shaken.

"I don't know where we stand now. If a woman can be accosted and heckled in such a way in a crowded street in the evening, that exemplifies the real situation," Mukherjee said in Bengali, sobbing in the video. She expressed further concern, stating, "I shudder to think what would have happened to me had this incident taken place in a deserted spot."

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The actor filed a police complaint, leading to the detention of the alleged attacker. The man claimed Mukherjee's car had grazed his bike, an allegation she denied.

This incident has sparked political controversy, with the West Bengal BJP criticizing the Mamata Banerjee-led state government for the deteriorating safety situation for women in Kolkata.

The attack on Mukherjee comes amid widespread protests over the rape and murder case at RG Kar Hospital. The gruesome incident, where a 31-year-old trainee doctor was found dead on August 9, has led to demonstrations within and beyond the medical community across the country.

As investigations continue, this latest incident has further intensified concerns about women's safety in Kolkata, adding to the ongoing debate about law and order in the city.