Dumka: The body of a 14-year-old girl was found around 500 metres from her home in Dumka district on Friday evening, triggering outrage and protests by villagers, students and school authorities.Hundreds of students from her school took to the streets on Saturday, carrying placards and demanding justice for the deceased. They blocked the Dumka-Pakur road, disrupting traffic. The protest continued till late evening, with the students demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible.According to her family, the girl, a Class IX student, returned from school around 3.30 pm, had lunch and later went to bring back cattle from a nearby field. When she failed to return, her relatives and villagers began searching for her. Her body was found around 7.30 pm.A police team, assisted by a dog squad, reached the area and recovered the body. Clothes were also found nearby, prompting suspicions of sexual assault. Police, however, said all possible angles were being investigated and that the exact circumstances of the death would be established after the probe and postmortem examination.“The matter is being investigated and all aspects are under scrutiny,” a police officer said.The president of the school management committee described the girl as a bright and well-liked student. He said such incidents could create fear among parents and discourage girls from attending school.The incident has also led to criticism of local political representatives for allegedly not visiting the bereaved family.The girl was the eldest of five siblings. Residents have called for swift action and stronger measures to ensure the safety of women and children.
