Body of woman trainee found in staff quarters of South Kolkata club

Mystery shrouds the death of a girl whose body was found hanging from the ceiling inside the staff quarters of Eastern Metropolitan Club at Survey Park on Monday.

The victim, Purnima Debnath (22), was a student of hotel management and had come to the club for her practical classes. She had been staying in the staff quarters. Police said that the victim was originally from Balurghat in South Dinajpur and was pursuing her management course at a private institute in Balurghat. The incident triggered tension at the Club at Santoshpur off EM Bypass, which is a popular spot in the city’s club scene.

Debnath had come to the city to enrol for practical classes at the club around November last year. Other residents in the staff quarters on Monday found the door of victim’s room locked from the inside. In spite of the repeated knocking, the victim did not open the door which made the residents suspicious. They soon informed the matter to the police who reached the spot. Police personnel broke open the door and found the girl hanging from the ceiling.

Homicide department officials reached the spot and collected evidence, while the girl’s body was sent for post-mortem examination. Investigating officers, meanwhile, recovered a diary belonging to her from the room and are examining it.

From the preliminary investigation, police suspect that the victim might have committed suicide following depression. Police came to know from certain clues that the 22-year-old victim had been married, but had separated from her husband following some dispute.

As the door was locked from inside, so far no foul play is suspected behind the victim’s death. Investigating officers are, however, probing to know what prompted the victim to take the extreme step.