Teacher wife seeks fresh post-mortem

Arpita at their residence in Raiganj

KOUSIK SEN, TT, May 26, 2018 Raiganj: Arpita Roy, the wife of schoolteacher Raj Kumar Roy who died under mysterious circumstances after he went missing from panchayat election duty on May 14, has sought a fresh post-mortem and forensic tests.

Arpita submitted a letter to the North Dinajpur district magistrate's office here on Thursday evening with the request that the tests be carried out on the last remains of her husband. Roy was buried according to family custom.

"The post-mortem was conducted at the Raiganj district hospital on May 16 and his body handed over to us after two days on May 18 without any reason for the delay. Since then, we have been visiting the hospital and contacting police officials to get the post-mortem certificate. However, the certificate has not been handed over to us till now," said Arpita.

Raj Kumar hailed from Phansidewa, near Siliguri, and was a teacher at a madrasa in Karandighi block of North Dinajpur. He used to stay in Raiganj with Arpita and their daughter.

On May 14, while on duty as a presiding officer at a booth in Itahar block, he went missing and on May 15, night, his mutilated body was found near rail tracks at Sonadanga on the outskirts of Raiganj.

Arpita said the delay had made her and other family members suspect foul play in Roy's death. "Otherwise, there can't be any reason for such delay. That is why, I want my husband's body to be exhumed and post-mortem conducted again in the presence of a magistrate with the procedure video-recorded. I also want all forensic tests to be done so that we do not have any confusion regarding the cause of his death," Arpita.

On May 18, the administration had handed over Raj Kumar's body to his family. It was taken to his home at Phansidewa and was buried as per the family's practice.

After his death, there had been consistent protests and demonstrations in Raiganj. A section of government employees, including schoolteachers had expressed suspicion that Roy was murdered.

The protests had made the administration and police to handover the case to CID.

Arpita's letter has been forwarded to the police and CID, said Ayesha Rani A, the district magistrate.

"We have sent the letter to the police and the investigating agency. They will have to decide on the issue," she said.

Senior police and CID officials however, said they are yet to receive the letter.

"Investigation is in progress. We have not received any formal request to conduct post mortem for the second time," said D I Lepcha, an special superintendent of CID posted in Malda.