Gopalganj/Patna: A 16-year-old student has died by suicide in a village in Bihar’s Gopalganj district, in an incident that has left the local community in shock.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning in Kahla Ahirtoli village, under the jurisdiction of Barouli police station. The deceased, identified as Jyoti Kumari, was the daughter of Sunil Yadav.
According to family members, the teenager had an argument with her mother over her use of a mobile phone earlier in the day. She reportedly went into her room and locked the door from inside. When she did not respond to repeated calls, family members forced the door open and found her unconscious. She was later declared dead.
Relatives said Jyoti had been spending long hours on her phone in recent months, including playing games and using social media. The family had raised concerns and advised her to focus more on her studies. On the day of the incident, a similar exchange reportedly led to the confrontation.
Her uncle, Ram Badhai Chaudhary, said the family had previously cautioned her about excessive phone use. “She was often engrossed in her mobile. We had tried to explain this to her several times,” he said.
Police from the Barouli station arrived at the scene after receiving information and sent the body for postmortem examination. A team from the forensic science laboratory also collected evidence.
Station House Officer Kumari Alka said that, prima facie, the case appears to be one of suicide, though investigations are ongoing. “We are examining all aspects. Statements from family members are yet to be fully recorded,” she said.
The incident has cast a pall of grief over the village, with residents expressing shock at the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death. Authorities said further details would emerge after the completion of the investigation.
(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050, Tele Manas – 14416 (available 24×7) or Call, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline – 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
