Bhiwani, Haryana — The mysterious death of 18-year-old Playway school teacher Manisha from Bhiwani has taken a dramatic turn. Initially reported as a brutal murder, police now claim that the young teacher died by consuming pesticide, not by being killed.
According to officials, a suicide note recovered during the investigation has revealed that Manisha was under emotional stress and took the extreme step. The viscera report confirmed the presence of pesticide in her body. Contrary to earlier claims, police said her throat was not slit but was disfigured by stray animals after death.
August 11 when Manisha went missing
The case, which began on August 11 when Manisha went missing, sparked widespread protests across Haryana. On August 13, her body was found near a canal in Singhani village of Loharu with what appeared to be a deep cut on her neck. Outraged family members alleged murder and refused to cremate the body, leading to continuous demonstrations and highway blockades.
Following mounting anger, the government suspended Loharu’s SHO and five police personnel for negligence, while Bhiwani SP was also replaced. The case saw three rounds of post-mortems, including one at PGI Rohtak, where doctors confirmed that no sexual assault had taken place and that the neck injury was consistent with animal bites, not a sharp weapon.
August 18
On August 18, a major development emerged when police disclosed that a suicide note was recovered from Manisha’s belongings and verified as being in her handwriting. The note expressed her inability to bear pressure and guilt of being a burden on her parents. She wrote that she dreamt of becoming a nursing officer to fulfill her parents’ aspirations but could not continue further. “I am sorry, Mama-Papa… you are the best parents. Thank you for raising me like a princess,” the note reportedly said.
Bhiwani SP Sumit Kumar confirmed that forensic tests found traces of insecticide in Manisha’s body. “The report clearly states that death occurred due to pesticide consumption. No semen traces or evidence of assault were found. Her injuries were caused by animals,” he told the media, adding that handwriting experts matched the note to Manisha.
Despite the police version, the family and villagers raised several unanswered questions — including why CCTV footage was not examined earlier, why pesticide smell wasn’t detected immediately, and why the substance wasn’t found at the scene. They also questioned phone call records showing missed calls from Manisha’s number even after her presumed death.
After nearly a week of tension, a meeting between the 25-member committee, villagers, and the victim’s family late Monday night paved the way for her cremation on Tuesday. However, locals insist that unanswered questions remain and have demanded a deeper probe.
The case that began as a suspected murder has now officially been termed a suicide, but for Bhiwani residents, doubts still linger.
