Kolkata: The house on Robinson Lane where 44-year-old Partha De was living with the skeletons of his sister and pet dogs for the past six months has become a tourist spot as passers-by and residents look around seeking clues to their mysterious world.

Apart from local journalists and television crew — they have rechristened the house as the ‘House of Horror’ — the whole place was teeming with inquisitive onlookers looking for answers. Some even went on to question the police and mediapersons.

“This is indeed a strange incident and I thought I would go and see the house for myself. How can one live with the skeleton of a loved one and pets and bear the gruesome stench once the body starts decomposing,” wondered Mitali Sen, a resident of Camac Street.

Others were seen standing for hours — even ignoring the pre-monsoon showers — hoping the police team investigating the house would reveal some details. “We are tired of asking people not to take pictures and not question us for details,” said the constable on duty.

However, police is still in the dark about the mysterious circumstances inside the household and looking for answers through scientific examinations. “We are waiting for the forensic and DNA test reports. Until then nothing can be said with complete surety,” said Pallab Kanti Ghosh, special additional commissioner of police (crime).

Investigators believe there was a relationship between Partha and his sister Debjani. A team of psychiatrists are now ascertaining Partho’s mental condition at the city’s Pavlov Mental Hospital.

The police have recovered eight laptops and desktop computers and numerous diaries maintained by Partha which has made the situation even more complex. Partha is believed to have even tried to connect to the spirit of his dead sister and had set up a ‘control room’.

Officials though are surprised they have not recovered any chemicals to preserve the skeletons and neighbours were not alerted by the stench of the dead bodies. “The stench of a decomposed body is so strong it can be felt 40 metres away. Strangely none in the locality even complained of any odour,” a police officer said.

Partha who has now admitted to his sister’s death in December 2014, claimed Debjani had said there was some evil spirit in their house and she had started fasting to ward off the evil. She fasted for over a month and died in the process. He kept the bodies wrapped in sheets and “fed his sister regularly” even after her death. “He said even now he can connect with his sister, his father and the two dogs spiritually,” said Ganesh Prasad, superintendent of the mental hospital.

“He is muttering a lot of incoherent things and we do not know whether it has any connection with real events. Unless he is in a mental state to answer, the entire incident will remain a mystery,” said Muralidhar, deputy commissioner of police.

Meanwhile, many remembered Debjani as a good music teacher and a talented pianist. “She used to teach us music in school. Never thought she would meet her end in such abnormal circumstances,” said Mekhla Ghosh a former student.

source: gulfnews.com