Raichur: The Netaji Nagara police of the city detained a person in connection with the death of a 23-year-old, fifth-semester civil engineering student of an engineering college in the city. The death of the student led to a widespread protest across the district with a few including her friends alleging that it is not a suicide but a rape and murder case. The netizens launched a campaign on social media under the hashtag #justiceforMadhu.
According to the police, one of the girl’s friends has been detained. “Her mother, Renukadevi lodged a complaint alleging that it is a sexual assault and murder case. Based on the complaint, a youth has been detained,” informed police sources.
Madhu’s body was recovered a day before her birthday on April 17.
Background
On Saturday, April 13, this 23-year-old Madhu went missing from her home at IDS MT layout in the city. In the evening, her parents lodged a complaint with the Netaji Nagar police station.
On Tuesday, April 16 noon, the police found her body in an isolated place near Manikprabhu temple of the city. Her body was found in a decomposed state. Based on a suicide note recovered from the spot, police registered it as a suicide. The body was handed over to the parents after a postmortem.
But now her friends and the students’ organisations allege that it is a murder by a person known to her. They alleged that Madhu may have been forced to write the death note that reads her academic records led her to end life.
While friends say that she was a bright student, Madhu’s parents have said that she was a brave girl who had the courage to face anything in life and her ending her life is out of the question.
According to the Netaji Nagar police, they are investigating the case and inquiring a person in connection with the incident, who is now in their detention. “We can’t divulge more details,” informed the police.
“We are waiting for the postmortem report. After that we can confirm the cause of death,” they added.
Suspicion
According to the locals, the body was traced on April 15. “But police left it on the spot saying that forensic experts are not in the city,” alleged the locals. The claim has been refuted by the police.
Protest
Meanwhile, on Thursday, student organisations carried out a massive protest in the city urging the police to re-investigate the incident. They warned of a district bundh if the police failed to ensure justice for Madhu. In the evening, a few groups carried out a candlelight protest.
