‘Parents cared for him a lot’

KOLKATA: As speculation rises on whether Rajib Mitra, the father of the 14-year-old boy with learning difficulties, who is now battling for his life at MR Bangur Hospital, would meet his son, neighbours and acquaintances of the family insisted the separation between the boy’s parents—Rajib and Anindita—was a quiet one in 2012.
Though Anindita had initially broken down, she got herself together and turned her focus on her son’s treatment at some of the best hospitals in the city and south India. Since the divorce came through in 2015, she had taken her child to a Chennai hospital alone nine times.

“The couple had moved into Tripti Apartments as one of the first occupants 15 years ago. Rajib was a qualified engineer and was employed with a well-known firm. We’ve seen how the couple cared for their son. Thrice, my son had helped them get him admitted to an EM Bypass hospital. It was a small gesture, but both were grateful. We never heard the two argue,” said Soma Bhattacharya, a neighbour.

Another resident at Tripti Apartments said that in 2012, Anindita had one day told her that her husband had been going on tours frequently. “Over the next few days, we learnt that Rajib, who was from Krishnagore, had left their home. We never saw him visit even once in the past six years. He owned a car but we heard he had sold it,” the neighbour said.