Patratu Dam Murder Case: Police says depressed medico committed suicide, parents disagree, demand CBI probe

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the first-year MBBS student of Hazaribagh Medical College was allegedly brutally murdered and her dead body was found floating in the Patratu dam in Ramgarh district with her hands and legs tied with ropes.

The deceased was identified as a 22-year-old medical student hailing from the Godda district enrolled at the Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College in Hazaribagh.

On January 12, the medico's body had been spotted by the locals who had informed the police.

The family members had been alleging murder and demanding justice. In fact, the deceased's father had alleged that her daughter had been murdered, and a classmate of her own college did this.

A Special Investigation Team had been constituted with officers from Ramgarh and Hazaribagh police to investigate the matter from all angles.

A recent media report in OPIndia stated that the police had also sent the victim's undergarments, vaginal swab, nail clippers, ropes, and other items to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFL) to probe the angle of rape.

However, a report by Times of India added that while addressing a press conference on Saturday, North Chottanagpur DIG A V Homkar informed that the late medico had been suffering from depression and she committed suicide after proper planning.

Homkar informed the press, "After a thorough probe from all angles, we have concluded that the girl was in depression and committed suicide after proper planning. She tied her hands and legs on her own with nylon ropes before ending her life in Patratu dam."

The DIG further mentioned that the autopsy report didn't indicate any instances of outside force or rape. He told TOI, "The autopsy report states that she died of asphyxia due to drowning."

Mentioning that she had taken an e-rickshaw from her hostel to the bus stand and a bus from Hazaribag to Ranchi's Booty More, Homkar further informed the press, "In fact, she surveyed different water bodies before deciding to jump in Patratu dam."

Moreover, he added that the police have been still investigating the cause of severe depression, mentioning that evidence collected from the hostel room and the spot indicated suicide.

Homkar also stated, "However, how she reached Patratu dam isn't known yet as there is no CCTV evidence. Her remaining journey is captured in roadside CCTVs and a driver of an e-rickshaw confirmed to have dropped her at Hazaribag bus stand."

Meanwhile, the Times of India in the latest media report has mentioned that the parents and relatives of the late medico dismissed the claimed of suicide made by the police.

Accusing the police of being unprofessional and demanding a CBI probe into the matter the father of the late medico has told TOI, "If the police believe that she drowned herself after tying her hands and legs on her own, then why did the police claimed earlier that they were close to cracking the 'murder mystery'?"

The deceased medical student's cousin has also dismissed such claims of stress and depression made by police. While commenting on the matter, the late medico's cousin informed TOI, "The cops' claim that the deceased was under stress is ridiculous. She was in an extremely joyous mood while talking to her mother a few hours before her death."

Meanwhile, the news has been doing rounds on Twitter. People are demanding justice for the late medico. One user wrote, "our government should come into action, 1 future doctor no more between us, who could save many lives."

Some users have questioned the claims of suicide made by Police.