Kolkata, 16 August (H.S.) — Tension prevailed outside RN Tagore Hospital in Kolkata on Friday night after the death of 35-year-old teacher Subal Soren, one of the 26,000 educators who lost their jobs following the Supreme Court verdict on West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) appointments. Soren died of a brain hemorrhage while undergoing treatment.

Colleagues and protesting teachers alleged that hospital authorities and police attempted to move Soren’s body out of the premises “secretly” without informing his family. The police have strongly denied the charge, saying that all legal formalities were completed and the body was duly handed over to his relatives.

In an official statement posted on its ‘X’ handle, Kolkata Police said:

“Certain misleading reports on social media claim that the deceased’s body was not given to the family. These are false. The family was present at the hospital, and the body was released to them after due procedures. Strict legal action will be taken against those spreading fake news.”

From Friday morning, hundreds of job-terminated teachers had been protesting outside the hospital. Witnesses said that when an ambulance was seen leaving the hospital premises, protesters suspected it was carrying Soren’s body. At a nearby traffic signal, agitated teachers lay down on the road to block the vehicle, prompting police to disperse them.

According to family members, Soren suffered a brain stroke on August 11 and had been admitted to a private hospital on EM Bypass. His wife alleged that he had been under severe mental stress since losing his job.

Soren was a prominent face of the ongoing protest by eligible yet job-deprived teachers. He previously taught Political Science at Baulasini High School in Debra block of Paschim Medinipur district.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh