Three tribal women die, locals allege involvement in addiction

Kolkata: Mystery shrouds the death of three tribal women whose bodies were recovered from Bangoda village under Raipur police station in Bankura on Monday.

According to the preliminary investigation, police suspect the trio might have committed suicide by consuming poisonous fruits. The victims have been identified as Mamoni Hansda (34), Shalmani Tudu (25) and Sumitra Mandi (30). The incident triggered tension among the local residents.

Police have started a case of unnatural deaths. The bodies of the three women were sent for the post-mortem examination at Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital. In the course of investigation, police came to know that the three women were involved in some addiction with some of the local youth inside a house on Sunday afternoon. Police suspect that the three women might have committed suicide as some of the local people saw them indulging in some addiction with the local youth.

Some of the local residents found them falling seriously ill after consuming some poisonous fruits. The local people rushed the three victims to Raipur primary health centre. All the three women later died at the health centre on Sunday night.

Some of the local residents told the police that the three women were involved in such activities that tarnished their image among the public and this had prompted them to commit suicide by consuming poison.

Police have, however, started a detailed probe into the incident. They are investigating all possible angles into the incident. Police are not ruling out the possibility of

murder. Police have also started probing the family members of all the victims.

The investigators are waiting for the post-mortem report which can throw some light on their deaths. Police are also conducting raids for the youth who spent some time with the victims inside the house on Sunday afternoon.