Patna NEET Aspirant's Death Takes a New Turn as Autopsy Report Emerges
The tragic case of a 17-year-old NEET aspirant in Patna has taken a significant turn. New medical findings directly contradict earlier police statements about the circumstances of her death.
Autopsy Report Reveals Critical Details
The post-mortem examination report, received by police on Wednesday, states that sexual violence cannot be ruled out in this case. This finding directly challenges what police officials had told the media just two days earlier.
On Monday, City SP Parichay Kumar had informed reporters that a gynecologist who examined the girl during her initial hospitalization found no evidence of sexual assault. He had also mentioned that CCTV footage from the hostel showed no suspicious activity.
The police officer had further revealed that the girl's mobile phone search history contained queries related to poison. He noted that her urine report indicated consumption of sleeping pills. However, he had emphasized that further action would depend on the post-mortem findings.
Police Acknowledge Changing Medical Opinion
Following receipt of the autopsy report, police acknowledged the shift in medical opinion. In an official press note issued Thursday by the office of the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Sadar-1 Patna, authorities confirmed they had received the post-mortem findings.
"In view of the seriousness of the case," the police statement noted, "the owner of the hostel, Manish Kumar Ranjan, has been arrested and produced before a court."
Police confirmed that further legal action would proceed based on evidence emerging during the ongoing investigation.
Timeline of Events and Family Allegations
According to police records, the sequence of events began on January 9 when authorities received information about the girl found unconscious in her hostel room. She was initially taken to a clinic before being referred for better treatment.
Her family subsequently admitted her to a different hospital where she remained under treatment from January 6 to January 10. As her condition worsened, she was transferred to another medical facility where she died during treatment on January 11.
From the beginning, the girl's family has alleged sexual assault and foul play. In an FIR lodged on January 9, the girl's father provided crucial details:
- His daughter left home for the hostel on January 5
- She spoke to him around 9 pm that day to confirm she had reached safely
- The next evening, a friend informed him she was lying unconscious in the hostel
- She had not regained consciousness since January 6 and was unable to speak
The father expressed strong suspicion that his daughter had been assaulted at the hostel. He noted there were injury marks on her body and head, and suggested there may have been an attempt to establish physical relations after assault.
Legal Framework and Initial Police Assessment
Police invoked several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in this case:
- Section 126(2) for wrongful restraint
- Section 115(2) for voluntarily causing hurt
- Section 76 for assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe
- Section 109 for attempt to murder
- Section 3(5) for common intention
Initially, police stated that their examination of the scene, forensic analysis, CCTV footage, statements from the hostel operator and warden, doctors including a woman gynecologist, and investigation reports did not confirm sexual assault.
Family Protests and Police Response
After the girl's death, her family intensified their protests over the handling of the case. On Monday evening, they brought the body to Kargil Chowk near Gandhi Maidan and staged a demonstration that attracted a large crowd.
Police from several stations eventually dispersed the protesters using mild force to clear the area. Subsequently, authorities registered a case under the Gandhi Maidan police station for the alleged violent protest.
The case continues to develop as investigators work to reconcile the conflicting medical opinions and gather additional evidence. The arrest of the hostel owner marks a significant development in this sensitive investigation that has drawn widespread attention across Bihar and beyond.
