New Delhi, Jan 31 (NationPress) The Bihar government has officially urged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct an investigation into the tragic death of a NEET aspirant at a women's hostel in Patna, aiming for a thorough and impartial inquiry into the matter.

Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, announced on social media platform 'X', stating, "The Honourable Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, has requested the Government of India to mandate a CBI inquiry into the alleged murder of a NEET student in Patna (Case No. 14/26). We seek a transparent and fair investigation of the incident."

The deceased, who hailed from Jehanabad district, was studying for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and was residing in a women's hostel located in Patna’s Chitragupt Nagar area.

Earlier this month, she was discovered unconscious in her hostel room under peculiar circumstances. She was immediately taken to a private hospital, where she remained in a coma for several days before passing away from her injuries on January 11.

The victim’s family has accused that she was sexually assaulted and has claimed that authorities are attempting to cover up the incident. They have repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction with the police investigation, demanding a high-level probe.

On January 28, the victim’s father called for a judicial inquiry into the case and threatened to self-immolate if justice was not served.

Significant advancements in the case were reported on January 27, when the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) gathered blood samples from 11 individuals as part of the investigation. Those sampled included the hostel owner, Manish Ranjan, five family members of the deceased student, and six other suspects.

The suspects consist of individuals captured in CCTV footage from the area, as well as those who were involved in transporting the student to the hospital after she was found unconscious. DNA samples are being collected from all suspects to determine their potential involvement in the crime.

According to official sources, the victim was confirmed to be a minor based on her age certificate. Consequently, investigators are preparing to invoke provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in this case.

The FSL examination has indicated the presence of sperm on the student’s clothes, heightening concerns of sexual assault. The victim’s family had provided the clothes to the police on January 10, and the forensic report was submitted to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) two days ago.

The post-mortem conducted at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) also suggested the possibility of sexual assault, contradicting initial police statements and raising critical questions about the early investigation procedures.

In light of the alleged investigative shortcomings, two Station House Officers — Roshni Kumari from Chitragupta Nagar Police Station and Hemant Jha from Kadamkuan Police Station — were suspended immediately.

Taking a firm approach, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Samrat Choudhary summoned Director General of Police Vinay Kumar and Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit regarding the suspicious death of the NEET aspirant in Patna, indicating potential significant actions in the case.

This action followed a meeting with the victim’s family, where they appealed for justice for their daughter.

Following this meeting, Samrat Choudhary promptly called the state’s top administrative and police officials to assess the investigation's progress.

Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit and DGP Vinay Kumar arrived at the Home Minister’s residence as instructed. Patna IG Jitendra Rana, SSP Kartikeya K. Sharma, ASP Abhinav, and other members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) were also present during this high-level review meeting.