ActorTaapsee Pannuspoke out on Monday regarding the tragic death of a NEET aspirant in Patna, who was allegedly sexually assaulted before being found unconscious in her hostel room. While promoting her upcoming filmAssi, which addresses crimes against women, Pannu condemned the incident and expressed concern over the alarming normalisation of sexual assault in society.
In an interview with ANI, Pannu noted that the NEET student’s death represents just one of many horrific incidents that occur daily. “I feel that there must have been 79 other such incidents that day… on average, 80 such cases are happening in a single day. In fact, the number is likely higher,” she said, stressing the need for societal outrage and preventive measures.
The actor expressed frustration over the public’s desensitisation to crimes against women, noting that many cases now go unnoticed or are accepted as a grim part of daily life. “So the grief, pain and anger we feel when we hear about one particular case -- we should feel the same when we hear about the others too,” she added. She highlighted the vulnerability of victims, from young children to adults, and underscored the urgent need to challenge societal acceptance of sexual violence.
Pannu, known for her roles in films tackling women’s issues likePink(2016) andThappad(2020), called the normalisation of sexual assault the most troubling aspect of the crisis. “What angers me even more is that we have normalised it… we have resigned ourselves to it. That, more than anything else, is what makes me the most upset,” she said.
The NEET aspirant from Jehanabad was found unconscious at the Shambhu Girls’ Hostel in Patna’s Chitragupt Nagar on January 6 and died on January 11 after several days in a coma. Her family has alleged sexual assault and accused authorities of attempting a cover-up. The police have since arrested a hostel employee in connection with the case.
