Minister’s domestic help kills self

A 19-year-old domestic at the residence of state water resources development minister Soumen Mahapatra committed suicide on Tuesday afternoon.

A 19-year-old domestic at the residence of state water resources development minister Soumen Mahapatra committed suicide on Tuesday afternoon.

Angry locals later surrounded Mahapatra’s house.

According to the police, the body of Mithu Bera, a resident of Patashpur police station area in East Midnapore district, was found on the third floor of Mahapatra’s residence at Panskura. A rope was found beside her body and there were marks on her neck. It is being suspected that she committed suicide by hanging.

"I have no clue of how and why this happened. I immediately asked the police to take the body for post mortem," Mahapatra, who was in Krishnanagar for a government programme. Apart from the girl, Mahapatra’s wife, who is a Trinamool councillor of Panskura civic body and some other domestics were present when the body was found.