Patna, January 12: An 18 year old NEET aspirant staying in a girls’ hostel in Patna died after being found unconscious in her locked room, sparking widespread outrage and a police investigation. While her family has alleged rape and murder, authorities say early medical and forensic findings point to a possible overdose combined with illness.
The teenager had returned to her Patna hostel on January 5 after a short visit home to continue her NEET preparation. On the evening of January 6, she had dinner with fellow students and then went back to her room.
When she failed to respond to repeated knocks later that night, hostel staff forced open the locked door and found her lying unconscious. She was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, she passed away on Sunday, January 11.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Abhinav Kumar, who is overseeing the case, confirmed that there were no signs of forced entry into the room.
After the student was taken to hospital, her family arrived in Patna and accused unknown persons of sexually assaulting and killing her. They pointed to marks on her body and insisted she could not have harmed herself. Her father filed a formal complaint demanding a full criminal investigation.
However, doctors who examined the body reported no injuries to her private parts. Police also reviewed CCTV footage from the hostel premises, which did not support claims of any outsider entering her room.
The final conclusion, police say, will only come after forensic and post mortem reports are completed.
During the search of her room, police recovered strips of sleeping pills. Officers also seized her mobile phone for digital analysis.
Investigators found that her internet search history contained videos and queries related to the effects of sleeping pills and whether overdosing on them could be fatal. These findings have become a key part of the ongoing probe.
Police also confirmed that the student was suffering from typhoid at the time of the incident. Doctors believe the illness, combined with a high intake of sleeping medication, may have caused her condition to worsen rapidly.
No suicide note was found in the room.
Police say they are continuing to examine medical records, phone data, CCTV footage and toxicology reports to determine what exactly led to the young student’s death.
(Rh/ARC)