Keoti (Darbhanga): A pall of grief and outrage descended on Pachadhi village in Bihar’s Darbhanga district on Tuesday after the body of a Class VIII student, 13-year-old Jatin Gautam, was found hanging from a ceiling fan inside the boys’ hostel of PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya under Rayam police station limits. The incident triggered massive protests, with the grieving family and local residents alleging foul play and demanding an investigation by the SIT or CBI.
Jatin, the son of Keoti Panchayat Mukhiya Ruby Kumari and BJP Keoti Mandal General Secretary Santosh Kumar Sahu, had returned to the hostel just four days ago after the summer vacation. The discovery of his body shocked the school authorities and sent shockwaves across the village.
Protest and Chaos at the School
As the news spread, angry relatives and villagers rushed to the school and accused the administration of negligence and conspiracy. They vandalized the administrative building by smashing window panes and clashed with the police when they attempted to remove the body for post-mortem without a forensic or magistrate presence.
“They were trying to destroy evidence,” alleged Santosh Kumar Sahu. “My son was being harassed regularly. He had told me on Monday night that he didn’t want to stay in the school anymore. And today, he is gone.”
The police vehicle carrying the body was surrounded by locals who demanded a proper forensic investigation. Allegations surfaced that the school management, in collusion with local police, was attempting to remove the body quietly.
Family Claims It’s Murder, Not Suicide
Jatin’s father, overwhelmed by grief, claimed that his son was murdered. He cited multiple past complaints to the school authorities about his son being bullied or harassed — which allegedly went unaddressed.
“This is not suicide. His bed was different, and the noose was just one brick above the bed. How could a child hang himself in such a manner? They killed my son and staged it,” he said.
The room had 19 students, but at the time of the incident, no one was present. This raised further suspicions.
Authorities Reach the Spot, FSL Team Called
Senior district officials, including Sadar SDO Vikas Kumar, City SP Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, and SDPO Shubhendra Kumar Suman, rushed to the school to control the situation. After hours of tension, the body was finally sent for post-mortem.
An FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) team later arrived and collected evidence from the scene. BDO Rukhsar, BWO cum In-charge BEO Karima Firdaus, and other officials were also present.
Local MLA Dr. Murari Mohan Jha visited the grieving family and demanded strict action against those responsible.
Emotional Farewell at Home
By Tuesday night, around 8 PM, Jatin’s body reached his home in Ranwe Purani Tol. The village plunged into mourning. His mother, Ruby Kumari, collapsed in grief, crying,
“Where has our Shravan gone… they killed my son!”
The heart-wrenching scene continued as sister Anchal Kumari wept inconsolably, saying,
“Who will I tie Rakhi to now, Bauaa?”
Jatin was the youngest of three siblings. Grandfather Badri Narayan Sahu, uncles Ashok and Ajay Sahu, and grandmother Phulo Devi were seen sobbing next to the body. No one in the crowd could find the strength to comfort the devastated family.
Demand for Justice Intensifies
Family members and villagers are now demanding a high-level inquiry by the SIT or CBI. They believe Jatin’s death was a pre-planned act covered up under the guise of suicide.
All teachers and students of the school remained locked inside the administrative building for the entire day following the incident, fearing backlash.
Police Statement Awaited
While senior police officials have assured a fair investigation, no official statement has yet been issued regarding the cause of death or the preliminary findings.
