Police in Nadia district recovered the lifeless body of 18‑year‑old Baby Mahato on Tuesday, confirming a hanging inside her family home in Santipur. Investigators have opened a case of unnatural death, weighing suicide against homicide while awaiting the autopsy report.
Baby, the younger of two daughters of Ajay Mahato, earned a modest living as a dancer and participated in tribal organisations. The family said she balanced her studies with performances across the region, a choice made to support household finances.
According to relatives, the family finished dinner on Monday night and retired to bed without noticing any abnormal behaviour from the teenager. The next morning, Baby's mother approached the locked front door, called out, and received no answer. After forcing the door open, she discovered the girl suspended from the ceiling.
Local police were summoned immediately. Officers transferred the body to Santipur State General Hospital, where doctors pronounced death. The remains were then sent to Ranaghat Sub‑district Hospital for a forensic examination. Santipur police station has recorded the incident as an unnatural death and begun questioning close relatives and acquaintances to piece together the circumstances.
While initial observations point toward suicide, authorities stress that the definitive cause will emerge only after the autopsy findings are released. Residents of the neighbourhood expressed shock at the tragic event, noting that no warning signs had been reported. The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement seeks to determine whether personal distress or external factors led to the fatal outcome.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalorean News