Patna: She arrived in Patna with a single-minded dream — to don a white coat and heal the sick. Just 18, the medical aspirant had travelled from her village home in Jehanabad to the city’s crowded coaching corridors in May 2024, driven by determination and confidence. Born into a modest family, her journey highlighted the aspirations of thousands of small-town students chasing a future in medicine.Her perseverance paid off last year when she cracked the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in her first attempt. The score was enough to secure admission to a dental course, but she chose not to settle. Determined to improve her rank and earn an MBBS seat, she returned to Patna in May 2025 to prepare once again.Her family stood firmly behind her decision, despite the emotional and financial strain of sending their only daughter, among two children, away from home. None of them imagined that her pursuit of excellence would culminate in a tragedy that has since left them battling for answers and justice.On Jan 5, the day she arrived by train from Jehanabad at around 1.30pm, her conversations with her parents and a friend were cheerful and routine. She spoke to them again at about 9pm that night. The next day, on Jan 6, she was found unconscious in her locked hostel room around 5pm, raising immediate questions within the family about the absence of earlier welfare checks, including for meals.She was first taken to a private hospital and later shifted to other medical facilities, remaining in a coma for days before succumbing on Jan 11.Her parents said they noticed scratches and signs of struggle on her body and suspected sexual assault and foul play. An FIR was lodged on Jan 9 after a doctor initially confirmed physical trauma. The family alleged that the doctor later changed his stand following the FIR, possibly due to external pressure.“Further, the hostel owner’s wife, Neelam Agarwal (spouse of Shambhu Agarwal), visited, pushing for a settlement,” the victim’s uncle told this newspaper on Sunday.He alleged that the hostel building is owned by Manish Kumar Ranjan, who began living on the top floor with his family in 2025. “Ranjan has a criminal history, including theft cases, and his Aadhaar is tied to a relative’s address in Makdumpur,” the victim’s uncle added.Police initially ruled out foul play, citing CCTV footage showing no unauthorised access to her room, possible consumption of sleeping pills and academic stress, suggesting suicide. However, the PMCH post-mortem conducted on Jan 14 altered the trajectory of the case. It recorded multiple injuries, including scratches on the neck and shoulders, genital trauma and indications of prolonged resistance.Rejecting the suicide theory, the family said she showed no signs of mental distress. They questioned the source of the tablets, inconsistencies in explaining the injuries and what they described as attempts to dilute statements. “We completely lost hope when the police gave their verdict and denied sexual assault. But with support from different sections of society, we hope that our daughter gets justice,” the family said.The uncle added, “We seek unvarnished justice, targeting not just the perpetrators but any enablers of concealment, including the role of hospitals.”
