Kolkata: A 64-year-old woman, a former singer with Akashvani and Doordarshan, was fatally stabbed inside her Behala apartment on Monday morning, allegedly by a woman who had earlier worked as a caregiver for the family. Police said the accused attacked the victim after her demand for money was refused.
The victim, Anita Ghosh, lived in a second-floor flat at Priyadarshini housing complex with her 75-year-old bedridden husband, Arup Kumar Ghosh, a retired Doordarshan employee. Their son, Aritra Ghosh, who works in an IT firm, lives separately in Joka.
Police identified the accused as Sanju Sarkar, a resident of Paschim Putiari, who had reportedly worked in the flat as an ayah about four years ago. She was detained along with the family’s cook and another caregiver, and was later formally arrested. Police said Sarkar confessed to stabbing Ghosh.
A neighbour, Bimal Patra, said he heard cries of “amake bachao” (save me) shortly after 8.30am. Residents traced the cries to Ghosh’s flat and knocked on the door, which was opened by a woman later identified as Sarkar. Inside, they found Ghosh lying in a pool of blood near the bathroom.
Patra said the accused initially claimed that another caregiver who arrived in the morning had attacked the victim. Neighbours alerted the family, informed the police and called an ambulance. When Sarkar tried to leave, citing a family emergency, residents stopped her. She was later identified as the attacker.
Ghosh was taken by her son to a private hospital in Behala Manton, where doctors declared her dead.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rahul De said Sarkar admitted she had worked in the flat earlier. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) Rupesh Kumar said the accused went to the flat around 8.30am and demanded money. “When the victim refused, she pulled out a knife and stabbed her on the chin and abdomen. The victim tried to resist, and the accused also suffered minor injuries. After Ghosh became unresponsive, the accused took cash and gold ornaments from an almirah,” he said. Neighbours arrived soon after and detained her.
Police are investigating whether Sarkar was sent to the flat by an ayah agency. Officers said two caregivers work in the house in shifts and are usually arranged through such centres.
A relative, Armiya Kumar Ghosh, said the family kept cash at home for medical emergencies. Neighbours remembered Anita Ghosh fondly, describing her as one of the earliest residents of the housing complex who often performed at cultural events, though she had recently expressed concern about not finding trustworthy caregivers.
