Patna: Police investigating the death of a NEET aspirant at a girls’ hostel in Patna have said that sexual assault cannot be ruled out, after a post-mortem examination recorded multiple injuries consistent with a struggle and signs of internal trauma.
The student, who was preparing for the medical entrance examination and was staying at Shambhu Girls’ Hostel, was found dead earlier this week. While initial assessments did not treat the death as suspicious, investigators now say medical findings raise serious concerns.
According to the first post-mortem report, the student was assaulted several days before her death. Doctors recorded at least 12 scratch marks on different parts of her body, including her hands, shoulders and upper torso. Medical experts involved in the examination said such injuries are commonly seen when a victim attempts to resist an attack.
The report also noted internal injuries, prompting authorities to videograph the entire post-mortem procedure. Police said the cause of death did not appear to be limited to a drug overdose, and no clear signs of injury were found on the neck. The findings have led investigators to seek a second opinion from AIIMS Patna, a step police said was taken to ensure transparency and avoid any doubts about the investigation.
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A female doctor who examined the student said the medical assessment was complicated by the fact that the victim was menstruating at the time she was brought to hospital. “There was active bleeding, which appeared to be menstrual,” the doctor said, adding that the student’s condition was extremely critical. “In such cases, the forensic examination for sexual assault can be technically affected, especially swab tests, which may not give clear results.”
The doctor emphasised that menstruation does not rule out sexual assault. “Bleeding does not mean that an assault did not take place,” she said. “The presence of scratches and other injuries indicates that something serious and wrong happened.”
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A doctor at the first hospital where the student was admitted said she arrived unconscious and had multiple scratch marks and injury signs on her body, including a head injury. The cause of the head injury was unclear at the time. The doctor said that, based on the initial examination, the case did not appear to be a straightforward instance of medication intake. The student was reportedly unable to speak properly and showed very limited movement.
Police are continuing to analyse call records and other evidence as part of the investigation. They said further conclusions would depend on the final forensic reports and the opinion sought from AIIMS.
