Haryana teacher death: Kin reject police's suicide theory, refuse to cremate body; govt suspends internet services

Indian Express

2 days ago

The family of a playschool teacher in Haryana, who was found dead earlier this week, Tuesday rejected the police theory that she may have died by suicide and refused to cremate the body, even as state government suspended internet services in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts for 48 hours and deployed additional forces to contain any untoward situation.
The residents of the 19-year-old woman's native village and some adjoining villages intensified the protest demanding a CBI investigation into the case. To block access to her village, locals placed tree branches and stones on roads.
The woman's body was found in a field in Bhiwani on August 13, two days after she had gone missing on August 11. On Monday, police citing forensic analysis of viscera and a 'handwritten not', said that she may have died by suicide by ingesting insecticide.
Her father rejected the police theory. 'The administration says that my daughter died by suicide. But I know that she can never commit suicide. I want justice,' the father said, adding that they will not cremate the body.
The body is currently being kept at a hospital in Bhiwani.
A former sarpanch of the village too criticized the police handling of the case, saying, 'From the beginning, they failed to conduct a swift and fair investigation.'
According to the family, the woman on August 11 had gone to a college to inquire about admission in a nursing course. When she didn't return home by evening, her father contacted the police through Dial-112, Haryana's emergency response system. The family alleges that police accompanied them to the college but only questioned three intoxicated men who claimed they hadn't seen the woman and that the college had closed at 1 pm. The former sarpanch asked the police didn't conduct a search of the college premises. He said the suicide theory is being floated to pacify public anger.
Asked why the purported suicide note surfaced so late, Rohtak Range IGP Y. Puran Kumar said: 'The note was found at the spot on August 13 when the body was recovered'. He added that such details are not disclosed during the initial stages of investigation.
The IGP further said, 'Since the recovery of the body, we have conducted a 100 per cent scientific investigation, following all required procedures. The postmortem was conducted twice—first at Bhiwani Civil Hospital and then at PGIMS, Rohtak. Doctors said they could not give a conclusive opinion until the viscera report and other findings were received.'
'After receiving the reports on Monday, they were thoroughly examined. A specially formed medical board briefed her family about the outcome of the scientific analysis. The board confirmed the presence of a poisonous insecticide—an organophosphorus chemical—in her kidney and intestine,' he said.
Meanwhile, amid public outrage, the government suspended Internet, bulk SMS, and all dongle services in two districts. The Internet suspension orders, issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Sumita Misra, does not mention the woman's death.
It cites 'apprehension' of tension, annoyance, agitation, and damage to public and private property in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts. According to the order, the suspension will be in force from 11 am on August 19 till 11 am on August 21.
In her order, Misra noted: 'It has been brought to my notice by ADGP/CID, Haryana and Deputy Commissioner, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri vide their requests dated 19.08.2025 that there is an apprehension of causing tension, annoyance, agitation, damage of public & private property and disturbance of public peace & tranquility in the district Bhiwani & Charkhi Dadri.'
The order further said: 'There is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in district Bhiwani & Charkhi Dadri on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours, which are being/could be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media/ messaging services on mobile internet services, SMS services and other dongle services.'
The government emphasized that the suspension aims to curb the spread of misinformation and rumours via platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and SMS, which could be used to mobilize agitators and demonstrators, potentially leading to 'serious loss of life and damage to public and private properties by indulging in arson or vandalism and other types of violent activities.'