Patna, Feb 2 (NationPress) The tragic incident involving the alleged rape and subsequent death of a NEET aspirant at a girls’ hostel in Patna has dramatically shifted with the release of CCTV footage from the Shambhu Girls’ Hostel. This footage raises significant doubts about the police's original timeline and brings the investigation's integrity into question.

The 10-minute and 54-second clip reportedly shows a man carrying the unconscious student out of the hostel as chaos ensued inside. Female residents can be seen running, peering into corridors, and reacting in a state of panic, which highlights the urgency and confusion at that moment. Sources indicate this footage was recorded while the student was being transported to the hospital.

The student, hailing from Jehanabad district, was residing at the Shambhu Girls’ Hostel in the Chitraguptnagar area of Patna while preparing for the NEET medical entrance exam. She was discovered unconscious in her room and was rushed to a private hospital, where she tragically succumbed to her injuries on January 11.

Following the incident, the victim’s family claimed she had been sexually assaulted. However, top police officials, including station house officer (SHO) Roshni Kumari and Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma, initially dismissed the rape allegations, citing a lack of conclusive evidence.

The newly obtained CCTV footage has now scrutinized the police's account. Previously, the police claimed the student was taken to the hospital at around 2 p.m. on January 6, but the footage displays activities outside the room starting at 3:50 p.m. The hostel gate opens at 3:58:55 p.m., with the student being carried out at 4:01:30 p.m.

This apparent discrepancy of nearly two hours between the official timeline and the visual evidence has raised serious concerns.

Moreover, the footage contradicts the police's earlier assertion that the hostel room door needed to be forcibly opened. Instead, it appears to show a girl climbing onto a table to unlock the door from above, suggesting there was no forced entry.

This raises further queries regarding whether the room was locked from the inside or outside, if others knew about the locking mechanism, and whether anyone accessed the room between 9:30 p.m. on January 5 and 4 p.m. on January 6.

No forensic examination of the door latch, locking mechanism, or handle height has been reported thus far.

Concerns have also been raised regarding delays in police response. SHO Roshni Kumari allegedly visited the hostel three days after the incident, by which time the crime scene may have been compromised. The room reportedly was not sealed, no entry log was kept, and the victim’s clothes—critical evidence in sexual assault cases—were not promptly collected.

There are also claims that instead of the SHO attending the scene on the first day, a driver was dispatched.

Further issues stem from the police's reliance on a report from Prabhat Hospital, the lack of immediate treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), and the premature suggestion of a theory involving sleeping pills prior to the availability of post-mortem results. The case was later transferred to AIIMS following concerns about the handling of medical examinations.

The CCTV footage shows that after the room was opened, several individuals entered—some with water and blankets, while others appeared to be giving instructions.

Despite the student being unconscious, no immediate call for police assistance or an ambulance is evident in the footage.

Consequently, this critical piece of evidence, the CCTV clip, is now regarded as a silent witness that not only challenges individual actions but also questions the credibility of the entire investigation.

As legal proceedings unfold, the footage has intensified calls for accountability, transparency, and an independent, scientific inquiry. Public focus remains firmly on whether the multitude of questions raised by the visuals will be thoroughly addressed.