West Bengal’s medical community is reeling from the recovery of a decomposed body from a hostel room at JNM Hospital in Kalyani, Nadia. The victim, final-year MBBS student Pulak Halder from Mograhhat, South 24 Parganas, was found on Thursday after days of being missing in plain sight.
Last seen on February 20 en route to the canteen, Halder vanished from peers’ radar. A persistent bad smell from his solitary room led to the door being smashed open, exposing the grim reality inside. Police were alerted immediately.
Kalyani station personnel documented the scene, removed the body for forensic analysis, and informed the bereaved family. Death circumstances—be it homicide, suicide, or otherwise—hinge on autopsy findings. Probe teams are delving into all angles.
Whispers of peer harassment during RG Kar agitation-related demos and study pressures circulate, unverified as yet. Hospital Additional MS Somjyoti Banerjee recounted how the foul odor prompted action, culminating in police intervention.
To prevent unrest, substantial police presence now guards the facility. Other residents verified Halder’s isolated living arrangement. This tragedy amplifies concerns over student mental health amid high-stakes medical training, urging systemic reforms.