Twin murder rocks Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 27: Maya Sarkar (52), a teacher and her 22-year-old daughter, Anusha Sarkar, were murdered at their residence at Air View Complex in Malda town last night, police said today.Maya, wife of late Hem Sarkar, AI of Schools, Malda, was a teacher of Krishna Mohan Girls' High School and her daughter was a Physics (honours) student of Malda College, police said. Maya's elder daughter, Ananya, is a Mathematics student of Jadavpur University in Kolkata. She was not present at the house when the incident occurred. Malda SP Mr DK Mondal said someone close to the family has committed the crime. The incident came to light this morning when Maya's domestic help, Saraswati Sarkar, found the blood-soaked bodies on the first floor of the house. She informed the matter to one of Maya's drivers. The police have detained the driver for interrogation. Hundreds of locals, including teachers and students, rushed to the spot soon after the news of the duo's murder spread in the town. The I-C of English Bazaar police station, the SP and the ASP also reached Maya's residence after getting information. "It was a planned murder. The criminal is probably linked to the family," said Mr P Pradhan, the I-C of English Bazaar police station. The ASP, Mr S Sarkar, echoed Mr Pradhan's tone. The police have also not ruled out the possibility of robbers' involvement in the murder as the ornament boxes were found broken. The ornaments, however, were seen scattered in the bedroom. A toy pistol, a sharp knife and three gold rings were found on a table inside the bedroom. Police said the duo were hacked to death. Their hands were tied after murder. Police found several injury marks on the body of Maya's daughter. The girl was probably studying in her room when the incident occurred, police said. The police have interrogated several persons known to the family. Neighbours and the domestic help have also been questioned. Mr Ratan Das, an employee of Malda FCI and one of Maya's tenants who lives on the ground floor of the house was not present in his room. According to locals, Mr Das left for Kolkata this morning for "official" purpose. The police are likely to interrogate Mr Das soon after his return from Kolkata. Another tenant, Mr Raja Kundu, a teacher of Malda Polytechnic College, said he did not know what happened at night on the first floor of the building. "We did not get any sound either," he told the police. According to police officials, a CID probe would be ordered into the twin murder.