Police said the bodies of Ria Soi (seven months) and Sia Soi (four months) were found without any external injury marks. The postmortem report, however, today said that the children were smothered to death.
According to police, the children’s parents Kanchan and Seema had come to Anandanagar, Liluah to attend Seema’s niece’s wedding on Monday. The next morning, Seema reportedly left for home in Chagram in Burdwan with the children, while her husband stayed back.
Preliminary investigation reveal that Seema was apparently found unconscious near Chagram bus stop at around 5.00 pm on Wednesday. An hour-and-a-half later, bodies of children were discovered by ascetics following the evening aarti, who recovered them the Belurmath reservoir.
The bodies were identified by the children’s maternal uncle Surojit Mondal, who also added that Seema was carrying Rs 500 and some gold ornaments when she boarded the train to Chagram from Belur station around 10.30 am on Wednesday.
When questioned by police, Seema said she couldn’t remember anything of what had passed since the time she boarded the train.
Neeraj Kumar Singh, Howrah’s Superintendent of Police, said death by forceful drowning couldn’t be ruled out.
“What is strange is how did the children reach Belurmath from Burdwan. Obviously, someone had to bring them by public transport like a train or bus. We are sending a police team to interrogate the parents.”