‘Salwar torn, signs of struggle’: Haryana hands 19-year-old teacher’s death probe to CBI; family consents for last rites

CHANDIGARH: While Bhiwani police have categorised the 19-year-old teacher's death as suicide, dismissing other possibilities, the first postmortem report (PMR) and police's own records raise unsettling concerns.According to the first PMR, the deceased's salwar was found "torn". It also noted "signs of struggle." Further, when the body was handed over to Bhiwani Civil Hospital on Aug 13 for the first postmortem, the apparent cause of death mentioned in the Loharu police inquest report was described as "Galat Kaam Karke, Gala Retkar Hatya" (murder by slitting of throat after committing wrongful acts).The first postmortem was conducted at the civil hospital on Aug 13 at 6.25pm on the request of Loharu police. The first postmortem report - a copy of which is with TOI -- records that police informed doctors that their initial impression was that her throat had been cut after sexual assault.

Findings mean wound inflicted while teacher was alive: Doctor

In another column, the PMR says, “Received partially decomposed dead body of a female individual wrapped in a white sheet of cloth. The body was wearing a yellow colour half sleeve round neck suit having red and blue colour embroidery flower imprinting over its anterior aspect, yellow colour salwar found torn at the anterior superior aspect and 'Nada' (string) found open intact in situ with struggle signs appreciated over the salwar and pink colour underwear with elastic at waistline which was found smudged with stool.

A red coloured sacred thread was present loosely around the right wrist joint. Black rubber was present in scalp hairs. All the clothes belongings were signed, sealed with five seals of the hospital and handed over to the concerned IO.”In the column on examination of external injuries, only one injury has been mentioned – “a lacerated wound with gnawing effects on margins of size 29.5×16cm was present horizontally over the front and both sides of the neck remaining a tissue tag on the posterior aspect of neck”.

“The wound margins were reddish, irregular and confused and gnawing effects were present near the margins of the wound. On exploration, skin subcutaneous tissues, superficial fascia, deep fascia, platysma muscle, bilateral stylohyoid muscles, both sternocleidomastoid muscles along with neck structures and underlying cervical bones were missing except remnants of putrefied soft tissues,” it said.To explain the technical terms, TOI spoke with a senior doctor of a prestigious medical institution of the region, who explained that the findings that wound margin were ‘reddish’ means the wounds were ante-mortem in nature.

“It means the wound was inflicted while the person was alive,” he said on condition of anonymity.The report has mentioned the teacher’s height as 165 cm and her physique as "poor built"

Haryana to hand over probe to CBI; cremation today

Amid widespread protests and public outrage, the Haryana govt has decided to hand over the investigation into the death of a 19-year-old schoolteacher in Bhiwani to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The decision follows demands from victim’s family for a fair and impartial probe.The playschool teacher was found dead on Aug 13 in a field near a canal in Singhani village, Bhiwani district. She had been missing since Aug 11 after leaving school to inquire about admission at a local nursing college. Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said, “The state govt and the police administration are working with full seriousness and transparency to ensure justice for our daughter from Bhiwani and her family," and added 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 on Wednesday.In an effort to provide clarity, district authorities sent the victim's body to AIIMS, New Delhi, for a third autopsy. This follows two previous post-mortems conducted at the Bhiwani civil hospital and the PGIMS hospital in Rohtak. The police escorted three family members to Delhi for the procedure, and the body will be returned to the village for the funeral to take place on Thursday. The teacher will be cremated on Thursday after her family’s demands were accepted.

Her grandfather said, “Both of our demands have been fulfilled. Now, we want to perform the last rites of our daughter.” Farmer leader Suresh Koth announced that the cremation will take place on Thursday at 8 am.