Body of 18-yr-old girl found near Japla Railway Station, probe underway

PNS

Daltonganj

Police have launched an investigation after the body of an 18-year-old girl was found between the rail lines of the reversible railway track near Japla railway station under the East Central Railway’s Deendayal Upadhyaya Division on Wednesday afternoon.

The deceased was identified as Babita Kumari, a resident of Sonepurwa village, through an Intermediate Science examination admit card issued by the Jharkhand Academic Council, Ranchi, which was recovered near the body.

According to Hussainabad police station officer-in-charge Chandan Kumar, the body was found at around 12.30 pm, barely two to three metres inside the station signal limits.

“The body had injuries on the head. There was a bleeding wound at the back of the head, and fresh blood was visible on the railway ballast when police and Railway Protection Force personnel reached the spot,” Kumar said.

Police said the girl’s limbs were intact, although deep bruises were visible on her face. Railway sources noted that in a typical train run-over case, limbs are often severed or badly damaged, making the circumstances of the death unusual.

Railway officials said no locomotive pilot or engine crew had reported any run-over incident or informed the station superintendent about a body on or near the tracks.

“The body was found between the rail lines of the reversible railway track. No engine crew reported any such incident. The first information reached the Permanent Way Inspector, possibly through a gangman or a hot-weather patrolman,” a railway official said.

Senior police officials, including Hussainabad Sub-Divisional Police Officer Divyansh Shukla, visited the spot and directed that a thorough investigation be carried out.

Police also confirmed that no mobile phone was recovered from the scene. Quoting the victim’s father, Satender Mehta, Kumar said Babita did not own a mobile phone, led a simple life and had no known friendship with any boy.

Mehta, a marginal farmer, has reportedly told investigators that he does not suspect anyone’s involvement in his daughter’s death.

Investigators said the exact cause of death remains unclear. While police have not ruled out any possibility, Kumar said there is currently no evidence to suggest that the body was dumped at the location.

“The presence of fresh blood on the ballast indicates the injuries were sustained at the spot. At this stage, foul play appears to be a distant possibility, but all angles are being investigated,” he said.