Calcutta, Nov. 1: Room No. 21 on the first floor of SSKM's Woodburn Ward, which had been bustling with activity, wore a deserted look this afternoon soon after its VIP occupant left.

Madan Mitra, who was admitted to SSKM on February 11, had first stayed in room No. 20 but was later shifted to the adjoining room.

Till yesterday, there were 12 to 15 policemen outside the room. Supporters of the minister stood or sat in the corridor.

"A priest would perform puja and put a tilak on the minister's forehead. This was a daily ritual," an employee said.

Inside the room, there were several pictures of goddess Kali on a table with flowers.

According to sources, the pictures of the goddess had not been kept in the room in the initial days. But as months passed and several of Mitra's bail pleas were rejected, he decided to perform puja everyday, they said.

After the minister left around 12.30pm today, the hospital authorities put a lock on the door, as is the practice when there is no VIP occupant in the Woodburn cabins. A group D employee of the hospital and three cleaners, hired from private agencies, sat idly on the old wooden armchairs outside the room.

"These armchairs and the other small chairs were mostly occupied by policemen and the minister's supporters. When the minister used to rest in the afternoon, some of his supporters used to take a nap on these armchairs," said one of the cleaners.

At 3pm today, there was no policeman in the ward. In front of the gate at the basement, a private guard was chatting with some hospital employees. Till last evening, there were policemen in front of the gate.