Barasat, Oct. 8: A woman who had campaigned against the pilfering of priceless finds from the 2,500-year-old excavation site at Chandraketugarh apparently committed suicide last night in the face of pressure to pull out of the movement.

Thirty-year-old Rama Das was hospitalised with serious burn injuries last evening.

The resident of Berachampa in Deganga, North 24-Parganas, died at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta this morning.

Her husband Swapan Das said she was being continuously threatened since joining the movement against antique smuggling. Rama, a mother of three, was a volunteer with the local NGO, Durgabahini.

The Archaeological Sur-vey of India is digging up the place, 45 km from Calcutta, while searching for remains from the Kushan period. Clay idols, pottery and metal coins from around 500 BC have been found at Chandraketugarh.

“My wife told me repeatedly that we should leave this place. She said people were out to murder her and her family for her movement against illegal activities. She had lodged two complaints with the Deganga police. But they ignored her complaints,” alleged Swapan, a bus driver in Calcutta. He said the police did not accept the complaint even when he approached them after his wife’s death.

“We have received the complaint and are taking appropriate action,” North 24-Parganas superintendent of police Praveen Kumar said today.

Swapan said on Thursday, around 20 people came to their house and hurled abuses at Rama.

Rama left behind her sons Amit (14) and Rocky (10) and daughter Jhuma (12).