Siliguri teacher stabbed multiple times by alleged former lover, attacker attempts suicide
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A private school teacher in Siliguri, West Bengal, was critically injured on Wednesday morning, 28 October 2026, after she was stabbed repeatedly by a man identified as her alleged former lover. The accused, Sajal Das, subsequently consumed poison and stabbed himself in what police are treating as a suicide attempt.
How the Attack Unfolded
The victim, Shiuli Dutta, a private school teacher in Siliguri, had stepped out for a morning walk when Sajal Das reportedly followed her before launching a knife attack. According to police, she sustained injuries to her face and neck during the initial assault. The attacker also cut off her hair and threw it on the road.
Dutta fled and took shelter in a nearby house, but Das followed her inside and stabbed her again multiple times. Witnesses who attempted to intervene were threatened and attacked with the same knife, according to local accounts.
Eyewitness Account
A witness, Kanchana Mandal, described the scene to local reporters: 'The woman ran into the house next door. The man also entered. While stabbing the woman with the knife, he took poison and inserted the knife into his own stomach in front of my eyes. My hands and legs are still shaking when I think of that scene.'
Police Response and Medical Treatment
Personnel from the Ashighar outpost under Bhaktinagar Police Station rushed to the location and rescued both Dutta and Das. Both were taken to Siliguri District Hospital. Das was subsequently shifted to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital after his condition deteriorated. Doctors confirmed that Dutta was treated for multiple wounds, including injuries to her neck, and her condition is currently stable, according to police.
Background and Prior Complaints
Local residents told police that Das is married, while Dutta is divorced and has a minor son. The two had reportedly known each other for years and were previously in a relationship that had soured in recent months, according to neighbours. Dutta's brother, Kalyan Saha, alleged that Das had been harassing his sister for some time and that complaints had previously been made to the police. Police have confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway.
This incident highlights the continuing pattern of violence against women linked to domestic disputes and relationship conflicts in the region. Authorities have yet to detail what, if any, action was taken on the earlier complaints.