Bhiwani teacher death: Haryana govt hands over probe to CBI; family rejects suicide claim, protests continue

NEW DELHI: The Haryana government is going to hand over the probe into the death of a 19-year-old teacher last week in Bhiwani to the CBI following public outrage.The Haryana govt and police administration are committed to ensuring justice for Manisha from Bhiwani and her family, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Wednesday, adding that he has been continuously seeking updates about the case. "Based on the family's demand, the Haryana govt is going to hand over this case to the CBI for an impartial investigation. Full justice will be ensured in this matter," Saini posted on X in Hindi.

Earlier, the Haryana govt on Tuesday ordered the suspension of mobile internet, bulk SMS and dongle services in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts for 48 hours from 11 am Tuesday amid public outrage over the death of the teacher. Manisha's body was found in a field in Bhiwani on August 13. She had gone missing on August 11 after leaving the school, purportedly to enquire about admission at a nursing college. On Monday, police claimed that the investigations indicated the teenager died by suicide by ingesting poison. However, her father, Sanjay, on Tuesday rejected the finding and refused to cremate the body, demanding "justice." He said, "The administration is saying that my daughter committed suicide.

But I can say that she can never commit suicide. I want justice." While protests over the teacher's death continued and politicians waded into the matter, alleging a breakdown of law and order, the emergence of a "suicide note" in the death case on Monday turned the investigation on its head.

Bhiwani Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar said the purported note was found near Manisha's body in a bag, which also contained her Aadhaar card and other documents.

He also stated that there was proof of Manisha buying insecticide. "In the viscera sample, the presence of insecticide has been confirmed in the body. So, there is self-purchase, there is a suicide note, there is poison in the body," he said. Police also said that the post-mortem reports have ruled out the possibility of any sexual assault. Villagers questioned the latest findings and continued to block a key road in Bhiwani in protest, stating that Manisha's cremation would not take place until "justice" is done.

The death caused massive outrage, with people blocking key roads in the district and opposition parties, including the Congress, demanding a CBI probe.

The opposition parties criticised the BJP-led state govt, claiming that the alleged murder was proof of a "breakdown of law and order" under the saffron party. Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the role of the state govt and the police had been "negligent and irresponsible", and an "unfortunate attempt is being made to prove the whole case as a suicide."