A 56-year-old woman died under mysterious circumstances in the Kalipahari locality of Asansol, situated in West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district, triggering widespread shock in the neighborhood. Following serious allegations leveled by the victim's elder son regarding a financial dispute involving a ₹40 lakh retirement payout, local authorities responded swiftly to inspect the scene. Police have taken the deceased woman's younger son and his wife into custody for detailed interrogation as investigations get underway.
Dispute over ₹40 Lakh Retirement Fund
The deceased has been identified as 56-year-old Baishakhi Hembram, a resident of the Kalipahari neighborhood falling under the jurisdiction of the Asansol South Police Station. According to the victim's elder son, Jayanta Barman, who resides nearby, the incident unfolded on Wednesday morning when his sister rushed to his house in distress. She reported that their younger brother, Rajib Hembram, was physically assaulting their mother inside their home. Upon receiving the urgent message, Jayanta hurried to the residence, where he discovered his mother lying severely injured and covered in blood. He immediately transported her to a nearby hospital, where attending doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Elaborating on the background of the conflict, Jayanta Barman revealed to the authorities that their late father had been an employee at Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). Upon his retirement, he received a lump sum retirement payout of ₹40 lakh, which remained under their mother's control. Jayanta alleged that his younger brother Rajib had been persistently demanding the entire ₹40 lakh sum for a considerable period. However, Baishakhi Hembram refused to hand over the funds, giving rise to frequent arguments and bitter domestic disputes within the household. Jayanta claimed that Rajib ultimately killed their mother out of greed for the retirement money.
Conflicting Claims: Staircase Fall vs Alleged Murder
The tragedy has left local residents in the Kalipahari area troubled, with conflicting versions circulating regarding the cause of death. Sanjay Singh, a local resident, shared that the neighborhood was shaken by the news of the woman's unexpected death. He noted that while some family members claimed she had sustained fatal injuries after accidentally falling down the stairs, others pointed toward deliberate violence and murder. Emphasizing the need for clarity, local residents urged law enforcement officials to conduct a thorough and transparent probe to unearth the truth.
Autopsy Report Key to Unraveling the Truth
Upon receiving information about the incident, officers from the Asansol South Police Station along with Deputy Commissioner (Central) Dhruva Das of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate arrived at the spot. Senior police officials inspected the crime scene, questioned witnesses, and secured the area. Police subsequently took possession of Baishakhi Hembram's body and dispatched it to the Asansol District Hospital for a comprehensive post-mortem examination.
Providing official details on the development, DC (Central) Dhruva Das stated that while a 56-year-old woman has lost her life, the exact cause of death remains unconfirmed at this stage. He explained that forensic and post-mortem procedures are being carried out, and investigators are waiting for the formal medical report. The police official also noted that no formal written complaint had been submitted by the family at the time of the preliminary statement. Officers emphasized that the autopsy findings will definitively establish whether the death resulted from a fall or foul play. Meanwhile, police have detained the younger son, Rajib Hembram, and his wife, Shivani, for questioning as the inquiry progresses.
