Thirthahalli: Death of a 14-year-old was a case of suicide, says CID

The Criminal Investigation Department, Karnataka probing the mysterious death of a 14 year old from Thirthahalli in its 233 page report has concluded that it was death by suicide.

A 14-year-old had mysteriously died in October and this had led to rioting in Thirthahalli and other parts of Shimoga demanding that justice be done. Several organizations which took to the streets accused a member of the Muslim community of being behind this incident. The state government had ordered a CID probe into the incident.

Suicide

In its 233 page report, the CID has said that it was a case of suicide. She committed suicide as she was upset with her academic performance the report noted. The initial complaint to be lodged was that of rape and it has now been found that no sexual assault had occurred.

Further the CID also noted that she had not got admission in one particular school which had upset her and then she decided to take the extreme step by consuming rat poison which eventually led to her death.

Falling grades

During the course of the investigation the CID spoke to her friends who said that after she moved from a Kannada medium school to an English medium her grades dropped. She used to express her unhappiness over, her friends told the CID. Her friends also stated to the CID that she remained upset for a considerable amount of time and she always would discuss this with them.

The complaint

After her death, her father had lodged a complaint stating that she had been abducted and assaulted. She was forced to drink something. However she managed to escape from their crutches, her father alleged. Upset over this she committed suicide the father also noted in the complaint to the local police.

Details of the suicide note

The CID found a suicide note which was in her school bag. There was a hue and cry over this and many accused that the suicide note planted by the accused persons. It was even argued that the contents in the note was not her hand writing.

However on sending the note to the Forensics Sciences Laboratory it was ascertained that the handwriting was indeed hers. The note stated that she was unable to cope with the pressures of academic demands.

Toxicology tests

The CID report mentions the toxicology reports of the girl and concludes that there was no sexual assault. As alleged in the complaint that she was escorted by a several youth on that fateful day has also been disapproved by the CID. There was no kidnap of murder or forced suicide the CID note mentioned.

The big fight

Soon after the death of the girl there was a major agitation launched. Several members accused the Congress government in Karnataka that it was stage managing the probe to protect a particular community.

The entire town of Thirthahalli had come to a standstill for almost five days. The BJP now says that it does not trust the CID report and demanded a CBI probe into the matter.