CHANDIGARH, Aug 19: The Haryana government on Tuesday ordered the suspension of mobile internet, bulk SMS and dongle services in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts for 48 hours, amid public outrage over the death of a 19-year-old teacher.
Manisha’s body was found in a field in Bhiwani on August 13. She had gone missing on August 11, after leaving school, purportedly to inquire about admission at a nursing college.
On Monday, police claimed that, according to their investigation, the teenager died by suicide by ingesting poison.
On Tuesday, her father, Sanjay, in Bhiwani, rejected the finding and refused to cremate the body, demanding “justice.”
“The administration is saying that my daughter committed suicide. But I can say that she can never commit suicide. I want justice,” Sanjay said.
While protests over the teacher’s death raged on, and politicians waded into the matter, alleging breakdown of law and order, the emergence of a “suicide note” in the death case on Monday turned the investigation on its head.
Bhiwani Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar said the note was found near Manisha’s body in a bag, which also had her Aadhaar card and other documents. He also said that there was proof of Manisha buying insecticide.
“In the viscera sample, the presence of insecticide has been confirmed in the body. So, there is self-purchase, there is a suicide note, there is poison in the body,” he said.
Police also said that the post-mortem reports have ruled out the possibility of any sexual assault.
A chemical, organophosphorus, was found in her intestine and kidney, a likely cause of her death, an officer said.
Meanwhile, the villagers also questioned the latest findings and continued to block a key road in Bhiwani in protest.
They said Manisha’s cremation will not take place till justice is done.
The mounting tension has led to the deployment of police forces in the area.
All the same, the internet suspension order does not mention the death.
The order, issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Sumita Misra, cites “apprehension” of tension, annoyance, agitation, and damage to public and private property in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts.
The notification also apprehended the spread of misinformation and rumours through such channels as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and SMS for the mobilisation of mobs of agitators.
According to the order, the suspension will be in force from 11 am on August 19 till 11 am on August 21.
The opposition parties have flayed the BJP-led state government, claiming that the alleged murder was proof of a breakdown of law and order under the saffron party.
Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the role of the state government and police had been negligent and irresponsible, and an “unfortunate attempt is being made to prove the whole case as a suicide.” (PTI)
