Patna Police Form SIT to Investigate Medical Aspirant's Death
Patna police have established a new Special Investigation Team to probe the death of an 18-year-old medical aspirant. Senior officials conducted a thorough inspection of the girls' hostel where the victim was found unconscious on January 6.
Senior Police Officials Inspect Hostel Premises
ADG Amit Kumar Jain and IG Jitendra Rana led the inspection team on Saturday. They examined the hostel alongside other senior Patna police officers. The inspection followed direct orders from DGP Vinay Kumar.
The SIT formation occurred on Friday under the leadership of Patna SP (East). The team received clear instructions to investigate the case involving alleged sexual abuse and suspicious death.
Autopsy Reveals Disturbing Findings
A medical board at Patna Medical College Hospital conducted the autopsy. Their report confirmed the victim suffered sexual assault. The examination revealed multiple injury marks on her body, including private parts.
The report documented bruises on her shoulders. It specifically noted crescentic nail abrasions around her neck and shoulders. These findings represent deep nail wounds that raised serious questions.
Hostel Owner Arrested as Investigation Intensifies
Police arrested hostel owner Manish Kumar Ranjan following the autopsy results. Authorities took this action to prevent potential evidence tampering. The arrest demonstrates the investigation's seriousness.
IG Jitendra Rana emphasized the SIT's comprehensive approach. "The team is probing the case from all angles," he stated. "We are examining technical aspects including CCTV footage from the hostel."
Conflicting Theories Emerge in Investigation
Sources close to the investigation suggest a possible suicide angle. The medical aspirant reportedly died from an overdose of sleeping pills. She hailed from Jehanabad and stayed at the Patna hostel while preparing for medical entrance exams.
"She died by suicide and there is no doubt about it," a source revealed. "Possibly due to past and ongoing sexual assault, which led her to take the extreme step."
The source added that Jehanabad police have joined the investigation. This collaboration addresses possibilities about events occurring at her native place.
CCTV Footage Provides Crucial Evidence
Police seized the original DVR containing hostel surveillance footage. The hostel maintains thirteen cameras, including a high-quality audio-enabled device covering the lobby outside her room.
Officials noted the victim arrived in Patna from Jehanabad on January 5. She remained largely in her room or under camera surveillance afterward. No suspicious activity appeared in the footage according to investigators.
Physical Evidence and Digital Traces Examined
The victim's room occupied the third floor with a small grilled window. This configuration made external entry impossible according to police. The hostel's single entry gate was locked from inside when authorities arrived.
Police had to break the gate to remove the victim. She had missed dinner on January 5 and breakfast the following day.
Nearby rooms feature thin walls that would transmit sounds easily. This architectural detail reduces possibilities of undetected foul play according to investigators.
Digital Evidence Points Toward Suicide Research
The victim's cellphone search history revealed repeated queries about suicide methods. She searched for information about poisons and medicines dating back to December 24. These searches included Amazon queries just days before the incident.
Three strips of sleeping pills were reportedly found by the warden. These were handed to the victim's maternal uncle. However, police received only one empty strip. Investigators are working to determine the medication's source.
Family Allegations and Police Response
The victim's father filed an FIR on January 9 alleging rape and murder. Family members claimed the hostel owner offered money to withdraw the case. Police found no evidence supporting these allegations but requested any recordings or proof for action.
Officials noted the family initially refused to register the case when police visited the hospital on January 7. Once the FIR was registered, authorities immediately sealed the room and seized the CCTV drive. The Forensic Science Laboratory conducted a thorough examination of the room.
Medical Opinions and Ongoing Investigation
The private hospital where the victim died listed poisoning as the cause of death. However, medical authorities reserved final opinion pending viscera report results. The case was referred to AIIMS-Patna for expert opinion with documents sent on Friday.
Police officials acknowledged the sexual assault evidence while expressing uncertainty about timing and location. "We also cannot deny sexual assault did not happen to her," one official stated. "But we are not sure about the time and place of occurrence."
Call details and messages contain relevant information according to investigators. However, they cannot disclose specific details while the probe continues. The Bihar police headquarters and state government are treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
IG Rana confirmed the SIT received instructions to crack the case at the earliest. The investigation continues with multiple angles being pursued simultaneously.
