Elderly couple, son found hanging in Kolkata home; suicide pact suspected amid financial distress

KOLKATA: An elderly couple and their 38-year-old son were found hanging in their Kasba home on Tuesday evening. Police suspect that the three died by suicide. A note left behind did not specify any reason for the family taking the drastic step, but said no one was responsible.

A preliminary probe indicates the family was in financial distress.According to cops, Kasba police station received a call in the evening that the family had locked themselves in at their second-floor apartment in Rajdanga and was not responding to calls. Police broke into the flat and found Sarajit Bhattacharya (70), wife Gargi (68) and their son Ayushman hanging. Locals said the family had moved into the flat only seven months ago.According to locals, Sarajit earlier worked in a private company and had also tried his hand at property broking. Gargi was a retired schoolteacher. Ayushman, neighbours said, did not have a fixed job. They were not often seen outside their home and Ayushman walked with a limp. A neighbour claimed the family was facing financial issues.“Sarajit did not talk much and kept mostly to himself. But the few times that he interacted with locals, he mentioned financial issues.

It appears they had unsettled debts. But we did not have any inkling that this would lead them to take such a step,” the neighbour said. Another local claimed the family had mentioned that their financial distress turned acute during the pandemic and they could not recover from it.Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rupesh Kumar said, “As per information received, the house owner used to work as a property broker earlier.

One note has been found where it is mentioned that they are leaving this world on their own.” An autopsy will be conducted on Wednesday. Locals claimed the mother and son had some visible external injuries, but these claims were not corroborated by investigators. Police said they are trying to reach out to the family’s kin and acquaintances.