CPM legislator jumps to death in Kolkata

An ailing CPM legislator from Basirhat committed suicide in Kolkata on Sunday. Mostafa Bin Kasem, 69, jumped from the balcony of his fourth-floor MLA Hostel room in Kyd Street around 5pm.

An ailing CPM legislator from Basirhat committed suicide in Kolkata on Sunday. Mostafa Bin Kasem, 69, jumped from the balcony of his fourth-floor MLA Hostel room in Kyd Street around 5pm.

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A suicide note recovered said “he was unable to bear the pain of living with such illness,” said Tajmul Hosen, a Forward Bloc legislator, who was among the first to spot the body.

Kasem, four-time MLA and one-time member of Rajya Sabha, had been admitted to the SSKM Hospital with urinary infection on May 26 and released on Saturday. One of his kidneys had been removed a few months ago. The other was damaged as well. He was also suffering from arthritis.

His son and daughter-in-law had come to visit him. “My father jumped when I went out to see my wife off,” said Masum bin Kasem.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said: “Had I met him and known he was depressed, I would have told him that he would have been provided with all necessary medical attention.”