NEET Student's Family in Jehanabad Lives in Fear Amid Repeated Death Threats
The family of a NEET student who died under suspicious circumstances in Patna last month is enduring constant fear due to repeated death threats, despite police maintaining round-the-clock security at their residence in Jehanabad district. A fresh threat note was allegedly thrown into their house through a window on Tuesday by an unidentified person, escalating the intimidation.
Escalating Threats and Police Response
The latest message read, "Na manoge, beti gayi, beta bhi marega, do din mein" (You have lost your daughter and if you do not relent you will lose your son as well in two days). This act follows a similar note found in the kitchen on Saturday, February 14, at around 11 am, which warned, "If you become too aggressive, you will be picked up and killed." After the initial threat, Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma directed Jehanabad police to enhance security for the family.
Rahul Kumar, SHO of Shakurabad police station, confirmed that the family lodged a fresh complaint on Tuesday, alleging an unidentified person threw a piece of paper with a threat into their home. He noted, "A piece of paper with a similar threat message was thrown inside the house on Saturday as well. Accordingly, security arrangements were made at their place. We shall look into the fresh complaint and take appropriate steps."
Security Measures and Investigation Details
Jehanabad SP Aprajit Lohan stated that the family informed the local police station at around 4 pm about the new note being thrown from the same window. Detailing the security measures, Lohan said, "Security was provided there. We have a lady constable, a dafadar, who stays there 24x7. One additional SHO also stays about 50 metres away from their house, in a government building, so that if any such problem occurs, they can reach there immediately."
He added that discussions are underway with the municipal council to install CCTV cameras at the location. "Police also collected handwriting samples from 15-20 individuals in the area, which will be sent for forensic matching," the SP said. Lohan suggested local anti-social elements could be behind the threats, explaining, "Our team is there permanently, so it is not possible for an outsider to come there without us getting information. Prima facie, it appears to be some local person who is mischievously throwing such letters."
Describing the modus operandi, he noted, "They are throwing the letter through the window because our main round is in front where our force is present all the time. So someone from the back side, there is a window that opens directly into their kitchen." Lohan urged the family to alert police immediately, saying, "We told them again that as soon as you get it, even if you get it at 3 at night, inform immediately the person sitting in front, the force that is stationed there."
Background of the CBI Probe
The threats occur amid a CBI probe into the death of the 18-year-old girl, who was found unconscious in her hostel room in Patna on January 6 and died on January 11 after remaining in a coma. Forensic findings, including traces of semen on her clothes and signs of struggle, suggested possible sexual assault, contradicting initial police claims of suicide and prompting the transfer of the case to the CBI.
An 18-member CBI team recently visited the family's home, questioning relatives and locals for nearly five hours on eight key points. Investigators also retrieved the deceased student's malfunctioning mobile phone from a repair shop in Makhdumpur. Forensic analysis of CCTV footage collected by the initial special investigation team (SIT) has been completed by the CID and submitted to the CBI, which has also visited the hostel, hospitals, and concerned police stations as part of the ongoing investigation.
