Patna: A 50 year old woman was found dead in her home in the Kotwali area of Patna on Tuesday morning, in what police believe to be a case of suicide. Lalita Devi’s body was discovered hanging in the kitchen of her residence in Kamala Nehru Nagar by her daughter, who said her mother had been suffering from mental distress following a series of family tragedies.
According to the daughter’s account, Lalita had returned to her maternal home six months ago after the death of her son, who died by suicide. “She had dinner with me and went to bed as usual,” the daughter told police. “In the morning, she went upstairs to the kitchen to make tea. When she didn’t return, I went looking for her and found her hanging.”
Lalita Devi had endured multiple personal losses in recent years. Her husband had died in an accident, and one of her sons was electrocuted. Another son, reportedly involved in a relationship that caused him distress, died by suicide six months ago. Her daughter told officers that since then, her mother had been visibly affected and had shown signs of psychological strain.At the time of the incident, three women were present in the household. Lalita’s daughter, her sister-in-law (referred to as “aunt”), and her husband’s second wife, who was reportedly the main caregiver in the home following his death.
The family has not levelled any allegations, and local residents have so far not indicated any suspicion of foul play. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team had not reached the scene, and authorities have not yet released an official statement about their findings. Assistant Sub-Inspector Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who was among the first officers on the scene, confirmed that police received a call reporting a suspected suicide. “We are investigating the matter from all possible angles,” Singh said. “Further action will be taken as directed by senior officials.”
