Mom sets 5-yr-old on fire, kills self in Madhyamgram
Times of India | 2 March 2025
1234 Kolkata: The half-burnt bodies of a 28-year-old homemaker, Madhumita Roy, and her five-year-old daughter were recovered from their home in the Doharia Shailesh Nagar Durga Mandap area in Madhyamgram on Saturday morning, minutes after the woman's husband received a message, stating, "No one is responsible for our deaths".
Police suspect Roy had set her daughter on fire before killing herself though the cause of death is yet to be confirmed. "This appears to be a case of murder-suicide. We will learn the details and can be more sure after further probe," said a senior officer from Barasat district police.
Roy lived with her husband, Prasenjit, who works at a plywood factory, and their daughter. The couple were married for seven years.
Police said Prasenjit had spoken to Madhumita over the phone even after leaving for work in the morning. But she reportedly did not answer when he had called her subsequently. Worried, Prasenjit called a local grocery store, asking them to check on her, police said. Around the same time, he received her ‘suicide note' on WhatsApp. Alarmed, he alerted their neighbours, who went to the house to find the mother and daughter, lying half-charred.
The two were taken to a private hospital in Madhyamgram, where doctors declared them dead. Their bodies were later taken to Madhyamgram Matrisadan Hospital. Police reported a strong smell of kerosene in the room. Investigators are finding out if Madhumita had any mental health issue.
"The suicide note states that no one is responsible for their deaths. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. The actual cause of death will be determined only after the reports arrive. Two unnatural death cases have been initiated," said an officer from Madhyamgram police station.
Neighbours were shocked at tragic deaths. A woman living nearby said they had not heard of any major quarrel between the couple. "Everyone in the area knew the family. Madhumita and her daughter appeared normal even on Friday afternoon. They spoke to us as usual. Never did we imagine that something so horrific could happen the very next day," said the woman.
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