Latest news with #SSKMHospital
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
Doing everything as per law but family stonewalling investigation, say police
The woman wrote in her complaint, "He suddenly grabbed my hair during our conversation. I slapped him in defence but he then grabbed my neck and hand. I do not remember anything after that — where I was or what I was doing — but can recall him touching me inappropriately, grabbing my waist and pulling down my pants. He sexually assaulted me. I found myself on his bed when I regained my senses." She said she somehow pulled herself together and managed to leave the campus, following which she contacted a friend who asked her to immediately report the matter to the police. She first went to Thakurpukur police station from where where she was guided to Haridevpur, where the complaint was registered. The entire case, however, was turned on its head barely 12 hours after the woman registered the FIR. Her father told several television channels — with his back to the cameras — that no one tortured her daughter and that she had only suffered some injuries after falling off an autorickshaw. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "My daughter called me around 9.40 pm to say she had hurt herself after falling from an auto. Haridevpur cops rescued her and took her to SSKM Hospital. Cops told me my daughter had been abused and one person had been arrested but my daughter told me nothing of this sort had happened. Cops told her to say certain things during the medical examination that she did not say," he added. "She has no connection with the arrested person. I do not know where Haridevpur cops found her. My daughter said the police made her write the complaint," he said in a statement filled with gaps. Cops, taken aback by this development, said they acted only after the woman (a psychologist) lodged a complaint and were doing everything according to law. "Our immediate challenge is to prove the sequence of events," an investigator said. "We have repeatedly gone to the woman's home but the family is stonewalling us. They have not given us her clothes and mobile — all crucial pieces of evidence — and are going on telling us that the woman is sleeping," a senior official said. Officials started a case under BNS Sections 64 (rape) and 123 (causing hurt by means of poison or other harmful substances with intent to commit another offence) and then added BNS Sections of 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 76 (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe her). State counsel Sourin Ghosal asked the court for Toppannawar's police custody, claiming he was "influential" and could destroy evidence; he was also not cooperating with the probe. "It is an ideal case of matching merit with mismatching mental health (sic). He may be meritorious but the crime he has committed speaks of his mentality," Ghosal said. Defence counsel Subrata Sardar said the complaint itself was "fishy". "The woman was on the campus from 11.45 am to 8.30 pm. But the complaint was lodged at 8.30 pm at a police station 4.5 km away. How is it possible?" he asked. Mother of rape accused Paramanand Mahaveer Toppannawar who reached Kolkata from Karnataka on Saturday said: "My son is innocent. He has come so far to study. He will never do such a dirty thing," she said. "We received a call from his friend around 11 pm. He told us that my son has been arrested and he didn't know the reason... We have no clue why our son has been arrested... We want to meet our son and talk to him... He was in the final year of his college. .. We do not know anything here in Kolkata — where the police station is or where the court is. All we know is that our son is innocent."
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Time of India
16-year-old boy found hanging in S Kol home
Kolkata: A 16-year-old student from south Kolkata was found dead in his home, with cops suspecting he might have died by suicide. The parents of the class 10 student of an English-medium school found him hanging at their Kalighat residence around 5 am on Friday. Family members took him to SSKM Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. Cops said the boy, a bright student, was receiving counselling at NRS Hospital for recent depressive behaviour. Locals said the teenager had a variety of interests and was popular among friends, before he slipped into depression. Cops did not confirm if he left a suicide note. Cops have arranged for a post-mortem and inquest to determine the exact cause of death. As of now, no formal complaint has been filed by any one. tnn You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
‘Solidarity, not sympathy': Kolkata campaign centres dignity of the elderly
Kolkata In a social ecosystem where the elderly often find themselves isolated, battling loneliness and depression with few avenues for expression or support, a citywide campaign currently underway in Kolkata seeks to reconnect them with the world beyond their often-empty homes. Launched in mid-April at the Asiatic Society by the Department of Psychiatric Social Work at SSKM Hospital, in collaboration with the National Institute of Social Defence — a Central government body — the initiative will conclude with a West Bengal-level conference at the Indian Museum on June 22. A significant milestone in the campaign came on June 15, observed globally as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, during an event at the Kolkata Police Training School. In a departure from conventional observances, caregivers and family members were not invited. The event gave the stage exclusively to older adults, who spoke candidly about experiences of neglect and psychosocial distress — concerns often overlooked in discussions around India's ageing population. 'Mental healthcare for older adults is not optional — it's essential. Wrongly labelling depression or dementia as 'normal ageing' delays care and deepens suffering,' Dr. Amit Bhattacharya, Professor of Psychiatry at SSKM Hospital, said underscoring the urgency of the campaign's goals. One of the campaign's most poignant moments, according to organisers, was a theatre performance titled Banchbo Mora Eksathe (We Will Survive Together) by the group Janhabi Sanskritik Chakra. The performance conveyed the message that dignity is not a favour but a fundamental right. 'This campaign is not about sympathy — it is about solidarity. When someone says, 'No one has asked me in years how I feel,' it shakes you. Right to dignity cannot expire with age,' Mayank Kumar, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatric Social Work and project head, said. Reflecting on the emotional resonance of the sessions, Manisha Manna, an scholar and facilitator, said, 'Several participants broke down. For some, it was the first time anyone asked how they were doing emotionally. One woman held my hand and cried — not because of anything I said but because someone finally cared to ask. It reminded me that we don't always need grand solutions. We just need to listen.' The Kolkata Police, which partnered for the June 15 event, runs a separate programme for senior citizens called PRONAM. 'Our programme has around 26,000 members enrolled. Any resident of Kolkata above 60 and living alone or with a spouse can enrol with us. We have a dedicated helpline and a call centre for them. Police persons keep visiting members regularly to provide them a sense of security,' said Santosh Pandey, Additional Commissioner of Police. The final event on June 21–22 will bring together experts from institutions such as NIMHANS, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and Delhi University. 'India currently has over 104 million citizens aged 60 and above, according to Census 2011, and this number is expected to nearly double by 2050. Globally, it is estimated that 7% of older adults live with depression, 5% with dementia, and 2% with anxiety disorders. In India, however, such conditions often remain undiagnosed and untreated, usually dismissed as part of 'normal ageing',' said Mr. Kumar.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Time of India
Biker killed in pile-up, 2 others die in N Kol, Chowbaga accidents
1 2 Kolkata: Three were killed and several others injured in three accidents between Sunday evening and Monday afternoon. A multi-vehicle pile-up near the Tea Board of India office in central Kolkata around 1am on Monday led to the death of a biker, Ravi Jaiswal (36), a resident of Tikiapara in Hiwrah. Police said a car coming from Howrah rammed into the stationary motorbike, carrying three riders. The three, none of them wearing a helmet, were thrown to the ground. The car crashed into a parked app cab and smashed into a traffic kiosk. The car driver, Anis Khan, was arrested. Jaiswal, who ran a plastic scrap business, died at SSKM. "Ravi, the youngest in our family, took his bike out, but his friend was riding it. We don't know why they went out so late," said his brother, Vikas. On Monday afternoon, a biker from Hooghly, Nirmal Das (55), was run over by a Roure 215 bus near Jorasanko. Earlier on Sunday evening, Jabir Sheikh (75) was hit by a bike on Basanti Highway near Chowbaga. He died at SSKM Hospital. —Tamaghna Banerjee
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Kolkata's top government hospital launches anti-drug addiction campaign with Central help
One of the top State Government-run medical institutions in Kolkata, SSKM Hospital, has launched a big drug abuse prevention campaign — starting with Kolkata and then moving to other parts of West Bengal — to curb high prevalence of addiction among the youth and prison inmates. The programme, carried out by the Psychiatric Social Work department of the hospital and supported by the Central Government, began on April 17 and six programmes have been held so far in Kolkata, Howrah and Barrackpore. 'The initiative was launched to not only curb rising substance abuse, particularly among adolescents and in correctional homes, but also to equip stakeholders with tools to identify, prevent, and address the problem,' Mayank Kumar, assistant professor at the department who is anchoring the campaign, said. According to Mr. Kumar, the target of the programme during the six drives held so far was to reach 150 participants, but it successfully reached 602 participants, including residents and officers of correctional homes, police officers, customs and airport officials, officers of Narcotic Control Bureau, NGOs, students, de-addiction specialists, counsellors, youths, parents, teachers, health professionals, and social workers. 'Although it may no longer dominate headlines, drug abuse remains a pressing concern in West Bengal. The region struggles with cross-border drug trafficking, especially of opioids like heroin. The national opioid usage rate stands at 2.1%, with Bengal experiencing a significant share due to its geographic vulnerability,' Mr. Kumar told The Hindu. 'Recent data indicates that about 9% of inmates in correctional homes are addicted to substances in West Bengal. This prevalence is concerning, especially in the context of overcrowded prisons and limited rehabilitation resources. Studies indicate that about 50% of prisoners in India suffer from substance use disorders — and this excludes tobacco use.,' he added. Mr. Kumar said the primary causes of substance abuse among the young included peer pressure and curiosity, disconnect with family, and relationship issues. The challenges in dealing with the problem, he said, was the lack of awareness in caregivers and teachers about early signs of addiction, inadequate access to health professionals and de-addiction services in many districts, and glamorised portrayals of drug use in pop culture and social media. 'Our programme advocates school-based interventions that go beyond lectures — leveraging storytelling, peer leadership, and practical mental health education; early screening and accessible counselling services to be embedded in educational institutions; promotion of vocational training, sports, and creative expression to give youth a sense of purpose and belonging; and encouragement of stronger family involvement and community-based intervention to nurture social safety nets,' Mr. Kumar said.
