Young BJP Leader Dies; Suicide Suspected

Patna: July 9, 2008

40-year old rising star in the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) camp in Patna Sarita Rai was found dead in her room at Ashiana Nagar under Rajiv Nagar police station on Tuesday night. Police have classified her death as suicide caused by the intake of some sort of poison.

Sarita Rai, the wife of a sari shop-owner Brijnandan Rai, was the president of the BJP Patna Metro Women's Front and was considered by many as a dynamic leader with a keen understanding of regional politics.

Rai, who owns Payal Sari Center in Ashiana Nagar, told the police that when he returned from his shop, he found his wife sleeping in her bedroom. The children told him that their mother was having a headache and had gone to bed early.

Seeing her acting rather strange, Rai rushed her to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) where she soon died.

After an autopsy, the hospital released the body to the family members who conducted the last rites at the Bans Ghat amidst the presence of several local BJP leaders including party legislature Nitin Navin; supporters, family members, and neighbors.

A 'shanti puja' in memory of Sarita Rai has been organized at the residence of Nitin Navin on Thursday.