Kolkata Teacher and BLO Found Dead in Bathroom, Family Points to Mental Pressure
A tragic incident unfolded in Kolkata on Thursday morning. A 47-year-old schoolteacher and Booth Level Officer, Asoke Das, was discovered hanging from his bathroom shower. He used a towel for the act. The discovery sent shockwaves through his family and the local community.
Family Members Describe Final Hours and Routine Stress
Asoke Das worked as an assistant teacher at Baharu High School in South 24 Parganas. He also served as the BLO for booth 110 at Chitkalikapur FP School in East Jadavpur. His brother, Tapas Das, shared insights into his demanding schedule.
"He faced definite mental pressure," Tapas stated. "My brother often worked until 2 am and then woke up by 5 am on most days. We never anticipated he would end his life in this manner."
Madhurima Das, the sister-in-law, recounted the morning's events to TOI. She explained that Asoke went to the market with his wife on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, he ensured his son, a Class IX student at a central Kolkata English-medium school, got ready for school on time.
"A little after 8 am, he entered the bathroom," Madhurima said. "After a long wait, he did not emerge. His wife knocked on the door. We decided to break it open and found him hanging."
Family members rushed him to a private hospital near Bypass. Doctors there declared him dead upon arrival. The family confirmed that Asoke did not leave behind any suicide note.
Political Allegations Surface Amid Investigation
Kolkata Police commissioner Manoj Verma inspected the residence. He reviewed preliminary details. Police initiated a probe to determine the exact cause of death. They are examining whether any external pressure played a role.
The Bengal BJP quickly released an audio conversation on its X handle. In the clip, Asoke's wife, Sudipta, is heard claiming threats. She alleged that a local Trinamool worker, at the instigation of councillor Ananya Bandopadhyay, threatened Asoke. The threats reportedly involved not deleting names from her part for the ongoing SIR.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya made a strong allegation. "The constant fear of physical violence against his family pushed Das into extreme mental distress," he claimed.
The viral audio also records Sudipta mentioning that Raju Das, an aide, threatened to harm her and her son. This led the family to install CCTVs at their home for safety.
Trinamool Counters Claims, Blames Election Commission
Councillor Ananya Bandopadhyay rubbished the charges. "There are 57 parts in my ward with 57 different BLOs," she said. "You need to talk to them to see if they faced any pressure. BJP is trying to make the audio go viral. This is nothing but a conspiracy with no real validity."
She added that the BLO was doing his job well. Like others across the state, he faced pressure from the Election Commission of India.
Trinamool Jadavpur MLA Debabrata Majumdar offered a different perspective. He claimed the BLO died by suicide due to the EC's short-sightedness and unplanned SIR.
Family Seeks to Avoid Political Spotlight
Amid the political crossfire, the family expressed a desire for privacy. Asoke's wife, Sudipta, did not speak to the media directly. Madhurima Das clarified their stance.
"We do not want to bring politics into this for now," she told TOI. The focus remains on grieving their loss and understanding the personal pressures Asoke endured.
The investigation continues as Kolkata Police piece together the final days of Asoke Das. The case highlights the intense pressures faced by election officials during critical periods.
