The Kangra police in Himachal Pradesh have taken a significant step in the investigation into the death of a 19-year-old college student by constituting a special board of medical experts. This panel has been tasked with examining the detailed medical treatment records of the young woman, who passed away in Ludhiana on December 26, 2025, nearly three months after she was allegedly assaulted by fellow students and sexually harassed by an assistant professor.
Chronology of the Tragic Case
The case originated from an incident on September 26, 2025, at a government college in Himachal Pradesh. According to the victim's father, whose complaint led to the registration of an FIR, his daughter was assaulted by four women students and sexually harassed by an assistant professor. The father alleged that this traumatic event plunged her into severe mental stress, triggering a rapid and continuous decline in her health.
Over the following months, her condition necessitated admission to eight different hospitals, including both private and government facilities. Her final medical journey saw her admitted to a private hospital in Ludhiana. As her health critically deteriorated late on December 25, she was referred to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in Ludhiana. She was rushed there in the early hours of December 26 but was declared 'brought dead' by the doctors at the state-run hospital.
Police Investigation and Key Challenges
Kangra's Superintendent of Police, Ashok Rattan, stated that the investigating team has successfully gathered almost all the relevant medical documents pertaining to the victim's treatment. "The records will be examined by a special panel of experts," SP Rattan confirmed. This move aims to establish a clear medical timeline and understand the direct causes behind her deteriorating health and subsequent death.
A major hurdle in the investigation has been the inability to conduct a postmortem examination. Police have stated that the victim's family did not intimate them about her death. Consequently, her body was cremated on December 27, a day after her death, before the police were formally informed. This has made the forensic examination of the medical records even more crucial for the case.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
Based on the father's complaint, an FIR has already been lodged against the accused assistant professor and the four women students. The formation of the medical board signifies the police's effort to build a robust scientific basis for the case, especially in the absence of physical autopsy evidence. The findings of this expert panel are expected to play a pivotal role in determining the course of the legal proceedings and establishing potential links between the alleged harassment, her mental trauma, and her ultimate demise.
The case has cast a spotlight on the issues of campus safety and the handling of sexual harassment complaints in educational institutions. The police's current focus remains on forensically piecing together the student's medical history to deliver justice.
