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SP Sumit Kumar said no semen, acid, or chemicals were found on Manisha’s body, ruling out sexual assault or chemical attack; scratches on her eyes and neck were from animals
On August 13, Manisha’s body was recovered from a field near a canal in Singhani village of Loharu, bearing bite marks on her neck. (News18)
In a dramatic turn of events in the investigation of the death of 18-year-old play way teacher Manisha in Bhiwani, Haryana, police have concluded that she was not murdered but consumed pesticide. Contrary to initial reports, Manisha’s throat was not slit but scratched by animals.
The incident, now seven days old, has seen Manisha’s body remain uncremated, with her last rites expected to be performed on Tuesday following a meeting of a 25-member committee last night. The police have also ruled out rape, as revealed in the viscera report.
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The entire case has been a point of contention since August 13, sparking statewide protests and candle marches demanding justice for Manisha.
What Happened On August 13
The incident traces back to August 11, when Manisha went missing. On August 13, her body was recovered from a field near a canal in Singhani village of Loharu, bearing bite marks on her neck. Police registered a case of murder, stating she was killed by having her throat slit. This angered the family, as they had lodged a complaint on August 11, but police allegedly dismissed it, saying she must have run away and would return after marriage. The case was finally registered on the evening of August 12.
Protest At Hospital On August 14
On August 14, after the postmortem, Manisha’s family refused to accept the body, demanding the arrest of the accused. This led to a sit-in outside the hospital, later shifting to Dhingawa Mandi where villagers joined the protest.
On August 15, the Nayab Singh Saini government in Haryana removed SP Manbir Singh for negligence and suspended five police personnel, including the Loharu SHO. Notably, Manisha’s body was examined thrice. Dr. Kundan Singh of PGI Rohtak clarified that she was not raped, only two small marks were found on her knees, and the neck injuries were caused by an animal bite, not by sharp weapons.
Protests Continue Since August 17
Protests continued in the case of teacher Manisha, a resident of Dhani Laxman, with family members and villagers repeatedly blocking highways. On August 18, a major development occurred when police announced that a suicide note had been found in her bag, and the shop from which she had purchased the insecticide confirmed the purchase.
Meanwhile, a postmortem at PGI once again confirmed poisoning. A meeting between the Dharna Committee members and the victim’s family was held late into the night at the Dhigawa Mandi rest house, in the presence of villagers. With this, Manisha’s last rites can now be performed.
Key Questions That Remain
- The body of Manisha was found on August 13. But why didn’t the police check the CCTV footage immediately after the discovery?
- If Manisha had ingested a poisonous substance, its foul smell would have been noticeable at the scene, yet this information only emerged six to seven days later. Crucially, why was the poisoning not detected in the first two post-mortems?
- Manisha’s body had been scratched by animals, with a 29 mm deep wound on the neck. Could such a large wound be caused by biting? Even if animals fed on her, how did the rest of the body remain unharmed, and why was the poisonous substance not detected on them? Crucially, why did the police fail to locate the pesticide bottle near the body?
- If Manisha had swallowed the poison, how did she manage to reach the fields about two kilometres from the school and shop? Did no one see her along the way?
- Manisha’s father stated that on August 11, around 6:30 pm, a call came from his daughter’s phone, but it was disconnected quickly. Shortly after, the phone was switched off. At midnight, another missed call was recorded. If Manisha had already died, who made that missed call, and where is her phone now?
- What could have driven Manisha to commit suicide, especially when her family reported no signs of problems or mental stress?
- Why have the police remained silent throughout the case?
What Was Written In Manisha’s Suicide Note
The police stated that Manisha’s suicide note read:
“I cannot see you both in trouble because of me. You have done so much for me, yet I feel everyone is unhappy with me. I think about everyone’s words, the world’s words, and still I am unhappy. I have done nothing wrong; I only wanted to fulfill my parents’ dream. I was pursuing BSc Nursing after clearing NORCEET, hoping to become a nursing officer. But I cannot be a burden to you both. I am sorry, mummy-papa, if I have ever hurt you. You are the best parents in the world. Thank you for giving me this life and raising me like a princess. If anyone finds this, please take care of my parents.”
The note has been confirmed by Bhiwani Police.
Bhiwani SP Confirms Insecticide Use, Note Handwriting Verified
Bhiwani SP Sumit Singh stated that the police have received the medical report of Manisha. According to the report, her death was caused by pesticide consumption, confirming that she had ingested insecticide. SP Sumit Kumar added that no semen, acid, or other chemicals were found on her body, indicating that no sexual assault or chemical attack occurred. The scratches on her eyes and neck were caused by animals. Additionally, the handwriting on Manisha’s note has been verified as authentic.
If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
- Location :
Bhiwani, India, India
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