Girl student's body found hanging in East Singhbhum; family alleges murder
Synopsis
A 15-year-old girl who left home to bathe at a village pond was found hanging from a tree two kilometres away three days later. Her family is rejecting suicide, pointing to scratch marks on her body and questioning how she reached the isolated spot — and the post-mortem report that could settle the question is still pending.
Key Takeaways
Mala Singh , a 15-year-old Class 9 student from Nutandih village , East Singhbhum , went missing on the evening of 21 May .
Her body was found hanging from a tree approximately two kilometres from her home on Saturday, 24 May .
The body was sent to MGM Medical College for post-mortem; results are still awaited.
Family members allege murder , citing scratch marks on the body and her cheerful demeanour before her disappearance.
Bodam police station has registered an unnatural death case and is investigating from all angles.
Villagers have warned of protests if a fair, high-level probe is not conducted.
The body of Mala Singh, a 15-year-old Class 9 student, was discovered hanging from a tree in a secluded area near Nutandih village in East Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, on Saturday, 24 May, days after she went missing. The incident has triggered grief, outrage, and demands for a high-level investigation among villagers and the girl's family.
How the Body Was Found
Mala Singh had last been seen on the evening of 21 May, when she left home telling family members she was going to bathe at the village pond. When she did not return by late evening, relatives and neighbours launched a search across nearby areas. Despite two days of extensive efforts, no trace of her was found.
On Saturday, some villagers discovered her body hanging from a tree in an isolated spot approximately two kilometres from her home, outside the village limits under the Bodam police station jurisdiction. Police were alerted immediately.
Police Response and Post-Mortem
A team from Bodam police station reached the scene, brought the body down, and completed legal formalities before sending it to MGM Medical College for post-mortem examination. The body was handed over to the family on Sunday.
The officer in charge of Bodam police station confirmed that an unnatural death case has been registered and that the investigation is being conducted from all possible angles. He stated that while the circumstances may initially suggest suicide, the exact cause of death would be determined only after the post-mortem report is received.
Family Alleges Murder, Cites Suspicious Details
The family has categorically rejected the possibility of suicide. They described Mala as a cheerful girl who had shown no signs of distress or suicidal behaviour. They also questioned how she could have reached a deserted location nearly two kilometres away when she had only stepped out to visit the village pond.
Family members further claimed there were scratch marks on her body, raising suspicion of a possible struggle before her death. They have demanded a fair, high-level investigation and the immediate arrest of those responsible.
Tension in the Village
The situation turned tense on Sunday after the body was returned to Nutandih village following the post-mortem. Villagers have warned of protests if a thorough and impartial probe is not carried out. The incident has left the community in shock, with grief and anger spreading across the area.
As the post-mortem report is awaited, the case remains under active investigation. The outcome of that report is expected to determine the direction of the police inquiry.
Point of View
A destination two kilometres from where she said she was going, no prior signs of distress — are precisely the kind of early indicators that tend to get lost if an unnatural death case is not escalated quickly. Jharkhand has seen recurring incidents of violence against young women in rural areas, and community pressure for high-level probes has historically been the primary driver of accountability. The post-mortem report is now the critical document: if it is consistent with hanging as the sole cause of death, the family's theory weakens; if it shows ante-mortem injuries, the case changes character entirely. The police's framing — 'may initially appear to be suicide' — is appropriately cautious, but the investigation timeline will determine whether that caution translates into rigour or delay.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mala Singh and what happened to her?
Mala Singh was a 15-year-old Class 9 student from Nutandih village in East Singhbhum, Jharkhand. She went missing on 21 May after leaving home to visit the village pond and was found dead, hanging from a tree about two kilometres from her home, on 24 May.
What does the family say about the cause of death?
The family has rejected the possibility of suicide, stating that Mala was cheerful and showed no signs of distress. They have pointed to scratch marks on her body and questioned how she reached an isolated spot two kilometres away as grounds for suspecting murder.
What action has the police taken so far?
Bodam police station has registered an unnatural death case and is investigating from all possible angles. The body was sent to MGM Medical College for post-mortem examination, and the results are awaited before the cause of death is officially determined.
What are villagers demanding?
Villagers and family members are demanding a fair, high-level investigation and the immediate arrest of those responsible. They have warned of protests if their demands are not met.
When will the post-mortem report be available?
The post-mortem was conducted at MGM Medical College, and the report is pending. Police have stated the exact cause of death will be established only after the report is received.
