Patna, January 17. The investigation into the suspicious death of a student preparing for the NEET exam at Shambhu Girls Hostel in Patna has been ramped up by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Questions have been raised regarding the initial handling of the case by the city police and the Bihar government.
Under the directives of the state’s Home Minister, Samrat Chaudhary, Bihar’s Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar has established the SIT, which is being led by Patna’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jitendra Rana.
On Saturday, IGP Jitendra Rana visited the Shambhu Girls Hostel to conduct a thorough inspection of the scene. All members of the SIT were present during this visit.
The IGP issued essential instructions to the investigating officers, emphasizing that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty, and that no leniency would be shown under any circumstances.
This incident came to light when a student from Jehanabad district, who was preparing for the NEET medical entrance examination, was found unconscious in her room at the Shambhu Girls Hostel in the Chitragupt Nagar area of Patna. She was immediately taken to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries on January 11.
The victim’s family has alleged that she was sexually assaulted. However, senior police officials, including the Assistant Superintendent of Police and the Senior Superintendent of Police, initially dismissed these allegations, citing a lack of concrete evidence pending the post-mortem report.
Subsequently, the post-mortem report revealed that the possibility of sexual assault could not be ruled out, raising serious questions about the police’s initial response to the case.
In light of these developments, DGP Vinay Kumar ordered the formation of the SIT, led by IGP Jitendra Rana on Friday, to ensure a fair and thorough investigation.
The SIT comprises the Superintendent of Police (East) for Patna, a female police deputy superintendent, a female inspector, a male inspector, a sub-inspector, an assistant sub-inspector, and a constable.
