Girls in suicide pact jump from highrise

KOLKATA: Two teenaged girls jumped to death from the terrace of a posh 17-storeyed apartment near Garia on Tuesday evening. One of them removed her watch and left it on the roof before the friends held hands and jumped. Police are yet to determine the trigger for the suicide pact but hinted that the girls’ friendship had long been a cause of concern for the parents.
Eleven days ago, an environmental activist, her sister and mother jumped from the roof of another highrise, South City, in asimilar suicide pact.
Tuesday’s victims — Sabiba Chandana Madan and Neha Panjowani — were Class IX students of BD Memorial School at Pratapgarh. Sabiba lived in a ninth floor apartment of Upohar complex and Neha lived near Bansdroni, about 4km away. They often visited each other’s homes.
The two usually travelled by carpool but were seen alighting from a taxi around 5.35pm on Tuesday. Sabiba’s father Atul Chandan Madan, who owns an IT firm, saw the girls at the apartment gates and scolded them for being late (class gets over at 4.40pm and the school is barely 4km away). The friends then went to Sabiba’s apartment where her mother also allegedly told them off, triggering a quarrel.
Neha and Sabiba suddenly ran out of the flat and threw the bolt from outside. Sabiba’s mother pleaded with them to open the door but they did not reply. Fearing the worst, she called up security and asked them not to let the girls leave the complex. The guards waited at the stairs but did not see the duo. Sabiba’s parents also alerted neighbours.
The search had barely started when around 6.15pm, security guard Phanibhusan Pradhan heard two thuds in quick succession towards the rear of the building. He and some residents rushed there to find the bodies lying next to one another in a pool of blood. They were in their school uniform.
Police believe the girls had walked to the terrace as soon as they left Sabiba’s flat and spent some time there. "We found a wristwatch on the terrace," said an officer. Preliminary investigation has hinted that there was tension between the girls and Sabiba’s parents over their "friendship" . Joint commissioner, crime, Pallab Kanti Ghosh said they are trying to ascertain the motive for the suicides.
Sabiba’s father Atul collapsed in shock and has been admitted to a private hospital. Neha’s father, Anil Panjowani, has a garments business. Usha Mehta, director of BD Memorial, said, "I came to know of the suicides through news channels. Then my teachers and other staff members called me. Neha and Sabiba were average students. I’d say rumours are rumours and it’s best not to heed them."