The Jharkhand High Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of the alleged abduction, rape, and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Hazaribag’s Bishnugarh. The intervention by the judiciary comes amid growing public outrage and a political shutdown in the district, as authorities scramble to provide answers regarding the brutal incident that occurred during Ram Navami rituals.
A division bench comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad initiated the proceedings after taking note of widespread media reports detailing the tragedy. The court has formally served notices to the Jharkhand state administration and the Director General of Police (DGP), seeking a response on the status of the investigation and the circumstances surrounding the crime.
The victim, a 12-year-old resident of Kusumba village, had accompanied her mother to witness the ‘Mangla’ procession—a traditional rally associated with Ram Navami—on the night of March 24. According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by her family, the girl was abducted during the event. Her body was discovered the following morning, March 25, in a field within the limits of the Bishnugarh police station.
In response to the gravity of the crime, Jharkhand DGP Tadasha Mishra announced on Sunday the formation of a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT). The team has been mandated to conduct a “swift probe” and is required to submit a comprehensive progress report, including details of any arrests or actions taken, within one week.
The incident has sparked significant unrest in the region. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for a 12-hour bandh (shutdown) in Hazaribag on Monday to protest the alleged breakdown of law and order. While officials reported that the district remained peaceful as of 2:00 PM, the shutdown significantly impacted local activity.
In the state capital, Ranchi, the Jharkhand BJP women’s wing staged a demonstration demanding immediate justice. Seema Singh, the wing’s general secretary, issued a scathing critique of the current administration, alleging that “law and order has deteriorated in the state and women’s safety is at stake.”
The High Court’s involvement is expected to put further pressure on the state police to ensure a transparent and time-bound investigation into the minor’s death.
