A 46-year-old temporary canteen worker was found unconscious in a bathroom inside the West Bengal Assembly on Monday morning and was later declared dead at a hospital, prompting an investigation by Kolkata Police.
The deceased was identified as Umeshchandra Das, who had worked at the Assembly canteen for around 15 years. He was found lying unconscious inside the Assembly premises and was taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation.
Personnel from Hare Street police station reached the Assembly after the body was discovered. Officers from the homicide branch of the Lalbazar police headquarters also visited the site as part of the initial investigation. Police have registered an unnatural death case.
According to the report, no visible injury marks were found on Das when he was recovered. Police have not received any complaint in connection with the death so far. The report did not identify any witness to the incident or provide details about when Das entered the bathroom or how long he had been there before he was found.
The death occurred inside one of the state’s most closely monitored public buildings, where access is controlled and multiple security and administrative systems operate. The police presence at the site, including the homicide branch, indicates that investigators are examining the circumstances before reaching a conclusion about the cause of death. At this stage, the available information does not establish whether the death was caused by a medical emergency, an accident or any other factor.
The police investigation is expected to include examination of the location where Das was found and the circumstances in which he became unconscious. The report did not state whether surveillance footage, statements from Assembly staff or other documentary material had been examined.
Das’s employment status is also part of the available background. He had reportedly been working as a temporary employee at the Assembly canteen for approximately 15 years. The report did not provide further information about his duties, working hours or whether he was on duty when he was found.
The post-mortem examination is expected to provide further information about the cause of death. Police are continuing their inquiry, and the findings of the examination will be important in determining the next steps in the unnatural death case. Until those findings are available, the circumstances of Das’s death remain unconfirmed.
