CPI-M demands SIT probe into death of woman employee at Tripura medical college

Agartala, June 14 (IANS) The CPI-M, the main Opposition party in Tripura, on Sunday demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe or a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge into the mysterious death of a 24-year-old woman employed at a private medical college in the state.

Leader of the Opposition in the Tripura Assembly and CPI(M) state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury visited the victim’s residence on Sunday and met her family members.

Several senior CPI(M) leaders, including the party’s youth wing Secretary Nabarun Deb, accompanied him during the visit.

After meeting the family and speaking with local residents, Chaudhury alleged that the woman was “murdered” and questioned the manner in which the investigation was being conducted.

“Even before the post-mortem report was available, how could the police conclude that it was a case of suicide? Unless an SIT investigation or a judicial inquiry is conducted, the real facts behind the incident may never come to light,” the Leader of the Opposition told the media.

He further alleged that despite requests from her mother, the medical college authorities had prevented the woman from visiting her home for three days prior to the incident.

Chaudhury also claimed that the woman had recently been transferred from her previous assignment to another department and assigned night-shift duties against her wishes, allegedly in violation of established norms.

The private medical college, located at Madhuban in West Tripura district, is run by a Birbhum-based NGO from West Bengal.

The CPI(M) leader said that both the victim’s family members and local residents were dissatisfied with the progress of the police investigation.

Criticising the investigating authorities, he alleged that the concerned Sub-Divisional Police Officer had made public statements linking the death to a failed love affair without conducting a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Meanwhile, the Tripura government’s Home Department on June 11 ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death and directed that a report be submitted within 15 days.

In an official order, Additional Secretary of the Home Department Tarit Kanti Chakma said that the state government had decided to conduct a magisterial inquiry into the death of the 24-year-old woman, whose body was found on the premises of Shantiniketan Medical College and Hospital in Agartala on June 10.

West Tripura District Magistrate and Collector Dr Vishal Kumar has been entrusted with conducting the inquiry and has been asked to submit a detailed report covering all aspects of the incident to the Home Department within 15 days.

The deceased had earlier worked as a caretaker at the medical college and was recently posted to its examination cell.

According to reports, the woman’s body was recovered from the college premises around midnight on June 10.

Soon after the incident came to light, police personnel reached the spot and launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to her death.

The following morning, in the presence of her family members and representatives of the medical college authorities, the body was shifted to the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital for post-mortem examination.

A youth has also been arrested in connection with the case.

Family members of the deceased have alleged foul play and claimed that she was murdered.

They have demanded a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation to uncover the truth behind her death.

The allegations have heightened public concern and triggered widespread demands for a comprehensive probe into the incident.

Meanwhile, some local residents have alleged that the woman may have been sexually assaulted before her death on the college premises.

However, these allegations have not been verified by the authorities and remain under investigation.

Police have maintained that all facts, evidence and allegations will be thoroughly examined before any conclusions are reached regarding the cause and circumstances of the woman’s death.

–IANS

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