Love, murder, cover-up: Missing Jharkhand teen's remains found in forest

Ranchi,UPDATED: Apr 12, 2026 15:10 IST

A nine-month mystery ended in a forest clearing -- with bones, a buried secret and a confession. Police in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district have solved the disappearance of an 18-year-old woman, alleging her lover lured her to a secluded spot and stabbed her to death.

The case has also triggered sweeping disciplinary action, with 28 police personnel suspended over lapses and suspected misconduct.

GRIM DISCOVERY IN THE WOODS

Pushpa Kumari, resident of Pindarajora village, was reported missing nearly nine months ago. Her remains were recovered from Madhutand forest in Chakulia panchayat on Saturday, only after her lover Dinesh Kumar Mahato confessed to killing her.

Bokaro Superintendent of Police Harvinder Singh said the two had been in a relationship for three years. During interrogation, Dinesh confessed that Pushpa had been pressuring him to marry her, which he claimed caused him “mental distress” and led him to plot the murder.

Police said Pushpa had gone to Chas College to enrol in a graduate course on the day of the incident. Dinesh allegedly met her there and, on the pretext of talking, took her about 1.5 km behind the campus into a deserted forest area.

He then stabbed her, hid the body in bushes and fled, discarding the blood-stained knife along the road, police said.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), acting on his directions, recovered skeletal remains, clothing, hair, bone fragments and the murder weapon from the site.

28 COPS SUSPENDED OVER LAPSES

A review of the probe found that some cops on the case did not follow key instructions. There were also attempts to weaken the case and benefit the accused, SP Singh said.

The conduct of these police personnel was termed "suspicious", with findings pointing to breaches of confidentiality and indications of money transactions and other objectionable activities in favour of the accused.

Singh said 28 police officials, including the station house officer of Pindarajora police station, have been suspended with immediate effect.

A departmental inquiry is underway, the senior cop added.

- Ends

With inputs by Sanjay Kumar