Patna: Police in Patna have registered a case against six named individuals and about 150 unidentified people following protests over the death of a 17-year-old student preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), officials said on Monday.
The student was found unconscious in her hostel room in the Chitragupt Nagar police station area earlier this month and later died during treatment at a private hospital. After her death, demonstrators carried her body to Kargil Chowk and blocked traffic, prompting the Gandhi Maidan police to open a case and begin identifying those involved using CCTV footage.
Senior superintendent of police Kartikeya K Sharma said many of the people suspected of participating in the protest were residents of hostels in the Saidpur and BN College areas. He alleged that the demonstration was organised as part of a conspiracy to escalate the situation and said action would be taken once those responsible were identified.
As part of the investigation into the student’s death, police have examined her mobile phone and medical reports. Officers said a urine test showed traces of sleeping pills, and a review of her Google search history revealed searches related to suicide and sleeping medication on December 24 and January 5.
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The police said preliminary inquiries had not found evidence of sexual assault. Investigators have inspected the scene, examined CCTV footage from the hostel, taken statements from the hostel owner and warden, and recorded accounts from doctors and a gynaecologist involved in her treatment. A forensic science laboratory team has also been involved.
According to the police, the Chitragupt Nagar station received information on January 9 that the student had been found unconscious at a hostel in the Munna Chak area. She was first taken to a nearby clinic, then referred to a hospital where she remained under treatment until January 10. Owing to her critical condition, she was transferred to another private hospital, where she died on January 11.
A post-mortem examination was conducted on Monday at Patna Medical College and Hospital by a medical board, with the procedure videographed, police said. The post-mortem report is awaited.
Family members have alleged that their daughter may have been harassed and have demanded a thorough investigation. Police said they were examining all angles and urged the public not to be misled by rumours.
