Police have begun investigating the death of a 14-year-old Class IX student whose body was found about 500 metres from her home in Dumka district on Friday evening, after hundreds of students and local residents blocked the Dumka-Pakur road demanding swift arrests.
According to the girl’s family, she returned from school at around 3.30 pm, had lunch and later went to bring back cattle from a nearby field. When she did not return, relatives and villagers began searching for her. Her body was found at about 7.30 pm, the family said.
A police team, assisted by a dog squad, reached the area and recovered the body. Clothes were also found nearby. Police said all possible angles were being investigated and that the exact circumstances of the death would be established after the probe and postmortem examination.
“The matter is being investigated and all aspects are under scrutiny,” a police officer said, according to the Times of India report. The police have not publicly established the cause of death or confirmed whether the incident involved sexual assault.
The discovery triggered protests by villagers, students and school authorities. Hundreds of students from the girl’s school took to the streets on Saturday carrying placards and demanding justice. The protest continued until late evening, with demonstrators calling for the immediate arrest of those responsible. The road blockade disrupted traffic on the Dumka-Pakur route.
The president of the school management committee described the girl as bright and well-liked. He said incidents of this kind could create fear among parents and discourage girls from attending school. The student was the eldest of five siblings, according to the report.
Residents have also criticised local political representatives for allegedly not visiting the bereaved family. Alongside demands for arrests, residents have called for stronger measures to protect women and children in the area.
The investigation and postmortem examination are expected to establish the circumstances and cause of death. Police have said that all aspects of the case remain under scrutiny.
