Patna: A preliminary investigation into the death of a 17-year-old medical aspirant has revealed that her family initially tried to avoid filing an FIR, prompting police to take suo motu cognizance after receiving inputs from the hospital, said Patna SSP Kartikey K Sharma on Wednesday. He said one of the five clothes sent for forensic examination carried semen traces, indicating the possibility of sexual assault, even as the state govt has handed the case over to the CBI for further investigation.The student was found unconscious in her hostel room in Patna on Jan 6 and died on Jan 11 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital. The victim’s family alleged that she was sexually assaulted and accused the authorities of attempting to cover up the incident.
Addressing a press conference, Patna SSP said, “The hostel’s CCTV footage was sent to the forensic lab for detailed investigation, where it was confirmed that the footage was not tampered with. According to the footage, the student arrived at the hostel on Jan 5 with a friend. That night, she left her room only twice for two minutes each time and then remained inside. The next morning, when the door was not opened for a long time, the warden, students and the guard broke open the door.”He said that the police’s technical and scientific investigation revealed that the student was at her home in Jehanabad from Dec 27 to Jan 5. On her way back to Patna, she purchased a medicine called Amitone Plus from a medical store near Arwal Mor. This purchase was confirmed by the victim’s UPI transaction record, the shopkeeper’s statement, and the initial statements of her family members.The student was treated at a private hospital from Jan 6 to 10, where her condition remained serious. The hospital’s initial report stated that the cause of death was an overdose of intoxicants. However, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) investigation found semen on the student’s undergarments, indicating that she may have been subjected to sexual violence. Based on this, the SIT and CBI teams are now conducting DNA profiling of potential suspects.“The investigation team also recovered a diary and cellphone from the student’s room. The phone’s forensic analysis revealed that the student searched for cyanide and sleeping pills on the internet on Dec 24. The analysis of her diary provided important clues about her mental state and personal struggles, which the CBI is now using as the basis for its investigation,” the SSP said.In this sensitive case, the Patna police took action against two police officers, including Ramkrishna Nagar SHO Roshani Kumari, who were found to be negligent in their duties. The officers were suspended, and the police are working to ensure that the case is investigated thoroughly and fairly.
