Indian Express 4 December 2006 JP Yadav, Patna
Papiya Ghosh, a renowned researcher of Modern History at the Patna University, and her maidservant, Malti Devi (80), were found murdered in their house on Sunday morning.
Ghosh (45) and her maidservant were found lying in a pool of blood at their house in the posh Patliputra locality. Her Alto car, cash and jewellery were found missing.
“It is not a normal robbery. There are no signs of forceful entry. It seems the culprit was known to Ghosh,” pointed out DSP Amar Singh. No arrests have been made so far. The Police are interrogating the second maidservant, who discovered the bodies today morning.
There are suspicions that the land mafia could be behind the incident. “She owned a big plot in prime area of Patna. Police should investigate this angle,” pointed out Shaibal Gupta of the Asian Development and Research Institute, who was closely associated with Ghosh.
Ghosh, whose study on Muslims in Bihar before Independence is much acclaimed, was currently researching on the Bihar Diaspora and Pasmanda (Dalit) Muslims. Three books on modern history authored by her are slated for release. Her sister Tuktuk Ghosh, a West Bengal cadre IAS officer, has reached here for the funeral.
Meanwhile, Patna University Teachers have decided to go on a mass casual leave on Monday and stage a silent Dharna in protest against the murder. “We will also seek an appointment with the Governor to demand a CBI probe into the incident,” said Prof P M Das of the PG History Department. Leader of Opposition Rabri Devi has also demanded a CBI probe, alleging that women were unsafe under the present regime.