Mystery shrounds mediaperson's death

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 29: Pralependu Sanyal, a freelance photographer and a contributor to The Statesman, died under mysterious circumstances here this morning.The Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel recovered the body of Sanyal from rail tracks near Malda College at Rathbari this morning. The body was lying on the tracks in two parts, police said.Sanyal’s elder brother Mr Patit Kumar Sanyal and members of Malda Photographers’ Association have lodged separate complaints with the police demanding an inquiry into Sanyal’s unnatural death.It was learnt that Sanyal, who had gone to the Malda Tourist Lodge bar to take snaps late last night, had a scuffle with three persons. According to eyewitnesses, after the scuffle at the bar, the photographer was once again attacked by the trio on the road connecting the National Highway 34 at Rathbari around 12.30 a.m. There, he was rescued and “sent home” by one of his friends, Mr Aadul Sheikh. The family members of Sanyal have, however, claimed that the victim did not reach home last night. “I rescued Sanyal and suggested him to go home. I have no idea what happened after that,” Mr Sheikh told reporters.The police have arrested Palash Chakraborty, one of the three persons who allegedly attacked the photographer last night.The investigating officer of Malda GRP recovered a piece of paper containing three telephone numbers from the victims’ pocket. His camera and cell phone, however, were missing. Sanyal’s ailing mother Mrs Jayanti Choudhury Sanyal, a widow, is shell-shocked after the death of her son.Reacting to the incident, the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said: “It was unwise on his part to go in a bar to take snaps.” Mr Mondal added that an inquiry had been ordered into the incident. Members of Malda Photographers’ Association have planned to submit a memorandum to the Malda SP, tomorrow demanding an inquiry into Sanyal’s unnatural death.