Kolkata, July 6 -- Sumita De, former Additional Director of Information and former head of the News Branch of the West Bengal government's Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata on the night of July 2 after battling cancer. She was 59.

An alumna of the Department of Journalism at the University of Calcutta, De served the state's Information Department for several years and was closely associated with the media fraternity through her work in the News Branch, where she maintained regular interaction with journalists.

De also headed the state's Exhibition Division during her career. She was deputed for a period to the Indian Statistical Institute under the Government of India.

The Pres...