A 16-year-old class XI girl student at a reputed central government school in Katihar was discovered dead in her home on Tuesday afternoon in mysterious circumstances, raising suspicions of foul play.
According to Katihar station house officer (SHO) Raghvendra Singh, the girl’s body was discovered hanging in her room, and the police have sent the mortal remains for postmortem examination.
“There was no one in the house at the time of incident except a minor who told the police that some boys allegedly hanged her after strangulating her,” the official said.
He did not, however, rule out the possibility of a family feud being at the root of the incident, and stated that the police are reviewing CCTV footage taken near the house.
According to locals, the girl’s mother is a Hindu who married a Muslim, and the family feud has gotten worse in recent years. “The incident may be a part of property dispute and the police will investigate the matter from all angles,” the SHO said.
The deceased’s father, Naiyyar Gafur, has demanded an investigation into the incident and blamed his close relatives for the girl’s death.
An FIR has not yet been filed because the police are still working on the report. “We are waiting for the FIR and once it is lodged police will start a probe,” SHO added.