West Bengal: Gunfire in royal family, Bishnupur's whilom 'king' found dead at Mallabhum palace

Gone are the past days of glory. The Mallabhum 'kingdom' has been gone for decades. None of the material authority remains for the Malla royal family in Bankura's Bishnupur. Yet, Salil Singh Thakur was known as the 'king' among the local populace. 

On Saturday morning, the king's bullet-ridden corpse was recovered from inside the royal palace.

The Malla Rajas once ruled over the vast territory in the south-western part of present West Bengal and a part of southeastern Jharkhand. None of that remains, yet the last vestiges of a bygone era and the whilom 'king' commanded some respect among those who were willing to offer, in the locality.

On his death, considerable tensions have prevailed in the area.

On Saturday morning, the terrific sound of gunfire shattered the otherwise tranquil air of Bishnupur village in West Bengal's Bankura district. People of the village, to their great surprise, discovered the bullet-ridden corpse of Salil Singh Thakur.

Beside the body, lay the king's licensed rifle.

As soon as the news spread, Bishnupur Police reached the area and recovered the king's body, which has been sent for a forensic investigation. The police are also ensuring if the death indeed resulted from suicide or if there could be a murder involved.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that Salil Singh Thakur had been ill for a while. He was reportedly suffering from depression, which the police primarily suspects as the cause of death. 

However, other members of the royal family are yet to ascertain any facts regarding the case.

Notably, Salil Singh Thakur reportedly played an active role in organizing the rituals, functions, and formalities of the Malla Royal Family. He was also seen publicly arranging the annual festivities for the Malla royal family's patron deity, Mrinmayi Devi.