Mentally-challenged man didn’t realise his mother was dead: Kolkata cops

Anirban Basu (centre) at his house in Tala, Kolkata on Wednesday. Express

A 40-year-old "mentally challenged" man spent at least four days with his mother's body at their flat "without realising" she had died of cardiac arrest, in Paikpara area of Kolkata.

The matter came to light after some residents of the building, located on Raja Manindra Road, contacted Tala police station on Tuesday over a foul smell coming from the ground floor apartment. Upon reaching the spot, police broke down the door and recovered the body of Mitra Basu (66). Her son, Anirban, was found sleeping in another room.

"Anirban is mentally challenge, and did not realise his mother's death. The deceased was living alone with her son since her husband, Shyamal Kanti Basu, died in 1997," said a senior official.

Police sources said Shyamal was a photojournalist who had worked with several newspapers during his career. Anirban had begun to show signs of mental illness after his father's demise.

"Primarily, Basu died of a cardiac arrest. No external injury has been found on her body," said Joint CP (Crime) Vishal Garg. Neighbours said Anirban and Mira were not very social, as the deceased would always stay at home to keep watch on her son.

"As per information, the deceased had struggled to run the family after her husband's death. She had eventually sold all her household belongings… The body has been sent for postmortem… it was decomposed, so it seems she died about four days ago," said a police officer.

Meanwhile, locals on Tuesday alleged that police officials had left Anirban at home alone, after removing his mother's body. Following this, police and NGOs reached the scene on Wednesday and worked to transfer Anirban to a home, sources said.

"Maa onno ghore ghumoche (mother is sleeping in another room)," Anirban told reporters on Wednesday.

Responding to the allegations, a police official said: "His relatives had come. He was hungry, they also gave him food. We were doing all formalities to shift him to a recovery home. With the help of police, neighbours and his extended relatives, he has now been sent to such a home."