An elderly woman missing since Durga Puja was found dead inside an abandoned CPI(M)-affiliated party office. Police confirmed mental illness history, no foul play suspected, and forensic procedures completed in Longtharai Valley.
An 85-year-old woman who had gone missing after Durga Puja was found dead inside an abandoned party office in the Longtharai Valley subdivision on Saturday, triggering shock and concern among local residents. The deceased has been identified as Alhadi Sarkar (85). Police officials stated that she had been suffering from mental health issues for several years and had a history of wandering away from her home.
According to police sources, the decomposed body was discovered inside an abandoned building once used by a CPI(M)-affiliated employees’ organization. The building, which has remained unused for most of the year, is only opened annually during Shani Puja, when locals prepare and store food offerings for devotees.
The body was first noticed when residents of the area unlocked the building to clean the premises ahead of the upcoming Shani Puja rituals. Upon opening the door, they found the severely decomposed remains lying inside, immediately alerting the local police.
Speaking to the media, SDPO Longtharai Valley Sona Charan Jamatia confirmed the discovery and explained the background of the building. “This is an abandoned structure. It was once used by a CPI(M)-affiliated employees’ body. In recent years, it is only accessed during Shani Puja. When locals opened it for cleaning, the body was found inside,” he said.
Initially, the identity of the deceased could not be confirmed due to the condition of the body. However, as the news spread, the woman’s daughter arrived at the spot and identified her mother. Police officials said the woman had been missing since shortly after Durga Puja.
According to the daughter, Alhadi Sarkar suffered from severe mental health problems and often failed to recognize family members. She had reportedly run away from home on several occasions in the past and was usually traced and brought back by relatives or neighbors.
“Earlier, she had been rescued once from the same building,” SDPO Jamatia revealed. “Her granddaughter was sent to search for her there this time as well, but it is suspected that she might have been hiding in an interior room, making it difficult to locate her.”
Police also confirmed that no missing complaint had been filed at the local police station. When questioned, family members cited her recurring behavior due to mental illness as the reason for not lodging a formal complaint.
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After completing forensic examination and procedural formalities, the body was handed over to the family for last rites. Police stated that no foul play is suspected at this stage, though an inquiry has been initiated to document the circumstances surrounding the death.
The incident has raised concerns among residents regarding the safety of abandoned buildings and the need for better monitoring of vulnerable elderly individuals suffering from mental health conditions.
