Kolkata: Six-time CPI(M) legislator and
former Rajya Sabha Vice-Chairman Mostafa Bin Quasem today
allegedly committed suicide by leaping to death from the
fourth floor of the MLA hostel here.
"The MLA jumped from the fourth floor of Room 411 and
fell on a tin shed. He is dead," police said.
Police said a suicide note found from the MLA`s body
revealed acute depression for the extreme step as he was
suffering from a number of ailments including kidney-related
problems for some time.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Industry and
Commerce Minister Partha Chatterjee visited the hostel and the
hospital where the body was kept.
Banerjee said that she could have helped Quasem in his
treatment had she been informed, but he died before she could
be introduced to him in the new Assembly.
She instructed authorities to hand over the body to
the family after postmortem and other formalities tomorrow.
The chief minister expressed her condolences to the
bereaved family and asked the administration to accord him due
honour and respect.
"If we receive any suggestion from the CPI(M), we will
do the needful," Banerjee said.
Quasem was first elected to the West Bengal Assembly
in 1977 from Baduria and Swarupnagar in the period between
1991-2006. He was recently elected from Basirhat North.
The CPI-M leader, who was a MP of the Upper House from
1984 to 1990, was the Rajya Sabha Vice-Chairman from 1987 to
1988.
The 70-year-old MLA is survived by his wife, a son and
a daughter.
PTI
