A 15-years old under trial allegedly committed suicide at observation home in Dumka as the district police said that on Thursday his body was found hanging inside the observation room.
The victim identified as native of Pakur was arrested by Pakur police on April 16 in a gangrape case that took place in Pakur on the intervening night of April 13-14.
According to the FIR lodged at Muffassil Police Station in Pakur, 11 accused persons, who were drunk, abducted a woman when she had gone out of house to attend nature’s call. The accused took her to an isolated place and gangraped her. An FIR was lodged on April 15 by the victim herself and the next day all 11 accused were arrested.
The accused and victim were taken for Covid 19 test and it was found the victim woman and eight other accused were tested positive and admitted to Covid Health Care Centre in Pakur. Police said that the minor was not tested positive hence he was shifted to Dumka observation home and kept in a separate ward for precaution.
Police said that the minor used bedsheet as noose to commit suicide. He used a bucket upside down to reach the ventilator to tie the noose. Two guards were on duty at night but none but they were unaware of the incident till the morning the door of the ward was opened. The authorities of the observation home informed the local police station as well as the district social welfare department.
Dumka social welfare officer Anita Kujur, doctor of Dumka Sadar hospital Dilip Kesri and DSP Vijay Kumar visited the observation room. Primary investigation and evidence collection was started in the presence of magistrate Asaf Ali. Later on, the body was sent for post-mortem and family members of the deceased were informed.
A case of unnatural death was lodged. Officer in-charge Umesh Ram said that primarily it looked as a case of suicide. But police will investigate all aspects of the case.