Arrest over suicide bid

TT, Cooch Behar, Jan. 15: The managing committee member of a non-government organisation that runs a central government-aided home for girls was arrested in connection with an alleged suicide attempt by three boarders at the facility yesterday.

Jagadish Chowdhury, 60, was picked up from his residence late last night. Police sources said Chowdhury could not be produced in court today as he had fallen ill and was admitted to the MJN Hospital here.

Anoop Jaiswal, the Cooch Behar superintendent of police, said Chowdhury was charged under Section 341 (wrongful restraint), Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 325 ( voluntarily causing grievous hurt), Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 354 (assault to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code.

According to police sources, three boarders of New Bharati Club, the NGO that runs the home, reportedly attempted suicide by consuming phenyl yesterday. "They were admitted to hospital where they are recovering," a police source said.

District magistrate P. Ulaganathan said the police had been asked to investigate the case and take necessary action. "The inmates of the home had been alleging that they were being mistreated and were not getting proper meals and clothes. There have also been charges of molestation against the arrested person," the district magistrate said.

Bablu Sarkar, the secretary of the NGO, denied the allegations. "The charges against the NGO and the managing committee member are baseless. The superintendent of the home is inciting the girls to level false charges."