A late-night argument inside a rented flat in Kolkata's Garia area left a 25-year-old software engineer dead. His live-in partner and her mother have since been arrested in connection with the case.
The victim, Sarthak Sarkar, was found dead under circumstances that have raised several questions. With conflicting accounts emerging, police are trying to piece together what happened inside the flat and establish the role of those present that night.
What led to the incident, and what have investigators uncovered so far?
Who Was Sarthak Sarkar?
Sarthak, 25, was a resident of Barasat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. He worked as a software engineer at a private company in Salt Lake's Sector V, Kolkata.
He had been staying in a rented flat in Fartabad, Garia, with his girlfriend, Sanchalika Basu. Her mother, Moumita, also reportedly stayed with them.
According to The Indian Express, Sarthak's family knew about his relationship with Sanchalika, who had visited their home in Barasat. However, they were reportedly unaware that the couple had been living together in Garia.
His family said he would frequently spend nights away from home and would cite work pressure when asked about it.
What Happened Inside The Garia Flat?
The incident took place late on 7 November with neighbours alerted in the early hours of 8 November.
Residents reportedly heard a heated argument and loud noises coming from the flat. Around 1:30 am, Sanchalika was heard crying for help.
When neighbours rushed inside, they found Sarthak lying on the bed with serious injuries and covered in blood. They took him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
According to police, Sanchalika allegedly struck Sarthak with a sharp weapon during an argument, injuring his shoulder. Other reports described serious wounds to his neck.
However, investigators have not yet established the precise sequence of events or the weapon responsible for the fatal injury.
Was The Argument Over Their Relationship?
The motive behind the alleged attack remains under investigation.
According to The Times Of India, The couple had reportedly been arguing for some time over allegations of relationships with other people.
On the night of the incident, the two allegedly accused each other of being involved with multiple partners. The argument reportedly escalated while they were drinking.
However, investigators have yet to establish whether the alleged relationship dispute was the sole reason behind the incident.
What Is The Police Action?
Police arrested Sanchalika following an initial investigation and subsequently took her mother, Moumita, into custody over suspected involvement in the incident.
Investigators are examining whether Moumita was directly involved in the alleged attack or had some other role in what happened inside the flat.
The investigation has also taken a new turn following reports of contradictory statements from the two women.
According to The Times of India, on 10 November, Sanchalika allegedly told investigators at one point that Sarthak had injured his own throat with a pair of scissors. On another occasion, she reportedly said she could not remember what happened during the argument.
Police are now trying to verify these claims and determine whether scissors or another sharp object was used. Investigators are also examining the possibility that a thin, pointed object, such as a chopstick, caused the injury.
The suspected weapon has not yet been conclusively identified.
What Happens Next In The Investigation?
Baruipur Superintendent of Police Aravind Kumar Anand said that the investigation was ongoing and officers were examining the sequence of events, the weapon used and the roles of both women.
The police have also been collecting forensic evidence from the flat. Investigators are awaiting forensic findings that could help establish how Sarthak sustained his injuries.
As of 10 November, police have not established who inflicted the fatal injury or the precise involvement of either woman.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
Who was Sarthak Sarkar?
A 25-year-old software engineer from Barasat, West Bengal, who worked at a private company in Salt Lake's Sector V.
Where was he found dead?
Inside his rented flat in Fartabad, Garia, Kolkata, where he lived with his live-in partner.
Who has been arrested?
His live-in partner, Sanchalika Basu, and her mother, Moumita Basu, have been arrested in connection with his death.
What allegedly led to the incident?
Police are investigating reports of an argument between the couple, reportedly linked to allegations of relationships with other people.
What is the latest development?
Police are examining contradictory accounts from the accused. Sanchalika reportedly claimed at one point that Sarthak injured his own throat with scissors.
What are police investigating now?
The weapon used, who inflicted the fatal injury and the individual roles of both arrested women.
