Bhiwani, Haryana — The case of 18-year-old teacher Manisha from Bhiwani, earlier believed to be a murder, has taken a new turn as police now assert that it was a case of suicide. Investigators say the young teacher consumed pesticide, and not only did forensic tests confirm this, but a handwritten note attributed to her has also surfaced.
Manisha, a resident of Dhani Laxman village, had gone missing on August 11. Two days later, her body was recovered from fields near Singhani village, sparking anger across the region. Initial reports pointed to a murder, with visible marks on her neck. The family accused the police of negligence and refused to accept the body, resulting in continuous protests and highway blockades for several days.
To address public outrage, the state government suspended multiple police personnel, including Loharu’s SHO. Meanwhile, doctors conducted three post-mortems, ultimately concluding that the injuries on her neck were due to stray animals, not a sharp weapon.
The controversy deepened on August 18, when officials revealed that a suicide note had been found. Verified by handwriting experts, the note suggested Manisha was under immense emotional burden and did not want to trouble her parents. She wrote about her dream of becoming a nursing officer but expressed regret for being unable to continue.
Bhiwani SP Sumit Kumar confirmed the findings, saying, “The viscera report shows the presence of insecticide in her body. No evidence of sexual assault or chemical burns was found. Injuries on her face and neck were caused by animals. The handwriting of the suicide note matches with Manisha’s.”
Despite the police explanation, villagers and family members continue to raise doubts. They question why critical evidence, such as CCTV footage and pesticide bottles, were not secured earlier, and why missed calls from her number were recorded after her disappearance.
After a late-night meeting between community representatives and authorities, it was decided that the cremation could finally take place on Tuesday, more than a week after her death.
The case, which initially shook Haryana as a suspected murder, is now officially labeled a suicide. However, the unanswered questions surrounding the investigation continue to fuel public mistrust and demands for a thorough probe.