The editor of CPI’s Bengali mouthpiece Kalantar, Chandan Chakraborty, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Shibpur on Tuesday. His body was found on the banks of Hooghly.

Chakraborty (52) had gone missing on Sunday after he left his Kalindi residence at 10.30 am. Later in the evening, his family lodged a missing complaint with the Lake Town police station.

“We had received a phone call from North Port police station on Sunday evening informing about the recovery of Chakraborty’s bag from a vessel that plies between Bagbazar Ghat and Howrah,” said Samarendra, the editor’s elder brother.

“The staff of the vessel told the police that Chakraborty drowned in the Hooghly after he jumped from the vessel,” said Samarendra.

Our family is not convinced that my brother has committed suicide, he added.

“My brother did not know swimming. The vessel was not crowded as it was Sunday. I wonder why my brother should commit suicide as he led a peaceful life and was devoted to his work,” said Samarendra.

Chakraborty was a bachelor and stayed with his two brothers. He was also a member of state secretariat of the CPI and became the editor of Kalantar in 2002.

Manju Kumar Mazumdar, state secretary of the CPI, described the death as an accident. Chakraborty had slipped from the vessel and drowned, Mazumdar said.

Kalyan Banerjee, the assistant editor of the mouthpiece, however, said: “We are shocked to hear about his death. I cannot say whether it was an accident or that he committed suicide.” According to Mazumdar, police will investigate into the case according to the missing complaint lodged by his family.

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