'Spurned' athlete stabs national-level volleyball player to death in West Bengal

A 15-year-old national volleyball player, who took part in at least two under-14 national and three state-level volleyball championships, was brutally murdered by another national level player in a volleyball coaching centre at Barasat in North 24 Parganas on Friday afternoon.

The victim, Sanghita Aych alias Tina (15), was killed by Subrata Sinha alias Raja (20).

More than 25 volleyball players and three coaches looked on in horror that the victim, Sanghita, desperately trying to escape her senior playmate, was chased and later hacked on her head and neck with the sharp weapon at least three times by the accused while she was being trained for an inter-state volleyball tournament.

The incident took place around 4.30 p.m. on Friday when Sanghita, a class ninth student from Barasat Girls' High School was practicing in her volleyball coaching camp at Natunpukur Volleyball Association near her Natunpukur residence.

One of her coaches who came to her rescue was also injured after being grazed by the dagger.

After a preliminary probe, police suspect Sinha hacked her to death after being spurned in love.

Police are looking for the killer who has gone into hiding soon after committing the brutal murder.

One of the coaches, Swapan Das said, "She was sitting with us on the ground. We saw Raja entering the ground silently and called her repeatedly from a distance. But Sanghita refused to meet him every time."

"Suddenly he rushed towards her and started threatening her with dire consequences. Sanghita also protested against him. Initially we tried to stop the quarrel but the duo continued. During altercation, suddenly I heard the screams of the girl and turned back at her to find her escaping while Raja holding a dagger was chasing her desperately," he added.

Narrating the series of events, the coach said that he immediately rushed towards Raja and threw his chair to obstruct him but he was hit on the hand by Raja with the weapon and continued with chasing her.

"The others in the ground also tried to catch him, but the monster already caught Sanghita after chasing barely a 60 meter distance and stabbed her repeatedly while we were yet to cross barely 20 feet to reach the duo as we couldn't save the life of a prospective volleyball player," he said.