Day before Assembly session,CPM MLA ‘commits suicide’

A retired professor of political science at Basirhat College,Quasem was suffering from a number of aliments,including a kidney-related problem. He was admitted to S S K M Hospital on May 26 for tests and released on May 28.

According to Harischandrapur MLA Tajemul Hossain,who was among the first to find the body,Quasem was alone in his room this afternoon. His son had gone to leave his wife at Basirhat.

Hossain said: “His son was alarmed when he failed to find his father in the room after he returned at 4.30 pm. He found the absence unusual as Mostafa could not walk because of acute arthritis in the knees. He started shouting ‘Baba koi?’ That alerted us. Finally the body was found in a pool of blood in front of Room No 111. It looked like he had jumped off the balcony of his third floor room.”

Supratim Sarkar,Deputy Commissioner of Police (South),visited the spot,but police have not released any official statement. They have lodged a case of unnatural death.

Five-time MLA Quasem left a suicide note stating that he was ill and found no reason to live. “He had written the suicide note in his MLA’s notepad and signed it,” said Narayan Mukherjee,MLA from Quasem’s adjacent constituency Bashirhat South,and a long-time friend.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the spot. She said: “I express my deepest condolences to the family and the party.”