We wouldn’t have let this happen had we known: Kin of deceased
Times of India | 21 February 2025
12 Kolkata: Swapan Kumar Banerjee (76), a resident of Silpara in Purba Barisha, stood near the NRS Medical College mortuary amidst pouring rain on Thursday afternoon. Behind the closed door lay his daughter, Romi Dey (44), and his granddaughter, Priyamvada (14). His son-in-law, Prasun, is now facing a possible police probe into their murders.
A sling bag hanging on his right hand, he had two other relatives holding him tightly to prevent him slumping to the ground as he was overcome with emotions. Two minutes later, when reporters surrounded him, Banerjee became agitated. "I didn't know so much! I did not know so many things, nor do I wish to talk about them," he said.
Another relative, who came from Nagerbazar, said, "If we had sensed so much, would we have let this happen?" A third relative later told TOI, "We came to know of certain things (read financial). But there are things that, as friends and family, we do not wish to discuss," he said.
Chitra Banerjee, mother of Romi, claimed the bond among the Dey family members was strong. Sitting at her Behala home, she said, "They did everything together, including travelling," she recalled. Chitra claimed she always received love and respect from her daughter's sister-in-law, Sudeshna, and brother-in-law, Pranay. During the pandemic, they even stayed at the Dey house. Chitra said she spoke with her daughter on Monday night, and according to her, the conversation was normal. But her call on Tuesday went unanswered. She had thereafter called the driver to check Romi's whereabouts and learnt that she was at home.
Chitra claimed that, just like others, she too has numerous questions about whether the Tangra incident was a murder or a suicide. However, she has demanded that the guilty be punished and wants the truth to be revealed.
Satyaki Sil, an IT engineer now settled in Mumbai, kept wondering why his sister, Sudesna Dey (39), did not inform him of any brewing storm back at her in-laws. "I came to attend a wedding in Kolkata and boarded the train this Monday. I called her from the train and apologised for not meeting her this time. But I promised to meet her soon," Satyaki was heard sharing with a relative.
Satyaki married barely a couple of months ago, and his in-laws, who accompanied him to the morgue, recalled how the Deys attended the wedding and seemed jovial. "We always knew them to be an affluent family," said one of Satyaki's in-laws. Satyaki was informed of the incident on Wednesday, and he took a late evening flight to Kolkata. He said his kin had been trying to call the Dey family members all through Tuesday but could not get through. He visited Tangra PS before rushing to the morgue. Satyaki was close to his sister after they lost their parents in 2005.
Multiple relatives and acquaintances of the deceased that TOI tried to speak to claimed they were unaware of financial difficulties of the family, who set up new ventures beyond leather. "When you looked at the G+4 building, you could see the affluence. But, they respected everyone. Their daughter Priyamvada was a top student in her class. She learnt singing and played badminton," said Snigdha Khamrai, the minor's private tutor. Another kin wondered about the future of their properties, both in Tangra and Bolpur.
Stay updated with breaking news, bank holidays and upcoming public holidays in march.