Congress Councillor of ward 12 Jhalda Municipality, Purnima Khandu was found dead at her her home in Jhalda. Khandu’s body was recovered on Friday night.
Her death has shocked the political arena of West Bengal for her husband and former Congress Councillor Tapan Khandu was shot dead by unknown offenders in March 2022. Purnima is widow to Tapan Khandu. Purnima represented the same seat as of her husband following his killing.
According to preliminary information, Purnima was at home on Friday evening while other family members were out celebrating the ongoing Durga Puja festival. When they returned late that night, they found her lying down and initially believed she had fainted. They rushed her to the Jhalda block health center, where she was pronounced dead.
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Family members reported that Purnima appeared to be in good health before they left. “She was not suffering from any ailment. We suspect something unnatural in her death. However, we will only know the exact cause after the post-mortem report,” said Nepal Mahato, Congress’s Purulia district president.
The investigation into Tapan Kandu’s murder was initially handled by a special investigation team (SIT) of the Purulia district police but was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). So far, seven arrests have been made in connection with that case, including Tapan Kandu’s nephew, Deepak Kandu.
With the trial already underway, the circumstances surrounding Purnima Kandu’s mysterious death have sent shockwaves through the political community in West Bengal.
