'Man who lived with corpse of sister, dogs can develop suicidal tendencies'

A man, now under treatment after he confessed to be living with the corpse of his sister and two dead dogs for the past six months here, is loathe to interact with anybody, and chances of him developing suicidal tendencies in future could not be ruled out, said a top official of a mental hospital he is admitted to.

"Partha De has depression... from time to time there is agitation. He isn't talking to anybody. He is unwilling to interact... he wants isolation," Calcutta Pavlov Hospital superintendent Ganesh Prasad told mediapersons here.

Police stumbled on the skeletons on Wednesday night while investigating the death of Arabinda De, the owner of the house whose charred body was found inside a bathroom hours earlier.

Police reached the house in south Kolkata's Shakespeare Sarani after getting a call about a fire.

The interrogation of Arabinda's son Partha, 44, led to the discovery of the skeletons.

Besides the maggot-infested skeletons, police also recovered audio CDs containing some voices and 'spooky' music. There is also evidence suggesting he used to "feed" the skeletons.

Finding Partha "mentally unstable", police later admitted him to the state-run mental hospital on Thursday.

A five-member medical board, including three psychologists, has been formed for the former Tata Consultancy Services employee's treatment.

"Till now, he is unwilling to share anything. He is only pleading that he be sent to a home (run by the Missionaries of Charity) founded by Mother Teresa. He says he won't stay at the hospital," Prasad said.

The superintendent said Partha appeared to have a "sentimental attachment" with his father, sister Debjani and the two dogs. "He is spiritual. He says he has connection with his father, sister and the dogs."

"A suicidal tendency among patients with such a background can't be ruled out," said Prasad. "We even have to counsel him to take food."