From Outcry to Inquiry: Haryana’s Manisha Murder Case Takes a Forensic Turn Amid Mass Protests

Haryana has erupted in anguish and outrage over the brutal killing of 19-year-old playschool teacher Manisha from Singhani village in Bhiwani district. Her throat-slit body, discovered on August 13 in a nearby field, two days after she went missing, has sparked a statewide uproar.

In the tense days following, villagers, students, and activists took to the streets across Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani, Hisar, Jind, Fatehabad, and Panipat. Major highways like the Delhi–Pilani and Bhiwani–Hansi roads were blocked, markets stayed shut, sit-ins and candle marches were organized, and Manisha’s family has refused to claim her body, demanding justice first.

Faltering Police Response Under Scrutiny

Manisha’s father, Sanjay Singh, has accused the police of gross negligence—claiming that when he reported her missing on August 11, officers dismissed his concerns, suggesting she had eloped and would return home on her own. Only later was a missing person complaint filed.

Political reaction has been fierce. Opposition figures—including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and MP Kumari Selja—have lambasted the state’s “collapse of law and order,” demanding accountability.

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Government Action and New Investigative Turns

In response to mounting pressure, the Haryana government transferred Bhiwani’s Superintendent of Police, Manbir Singh, and suspended five local police officers—including SHO Ashok and ASI Shakuntala.

At the same time, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini pledged tight oversight of the case, stating that an impartial and swift investigation is underway.

New Twist: Forensic Experts Probe “Suicide Angle”

In a dramatic shift, investigators have set up a five-member medical panel from PGIMS Rohtak to examine a potential suicide motive. Bhiwani’s SP, Sumit Kumar, revealed that a purported suicide note and insecticide were found in Manisha’s bag, and toxicology confirmed the presence of poison in her system. Notably, the first autopsy allegedly did not reveal any signs of sexual assault or cuts. However, full forensic tests are still to come.

This new development has made people even more suspicious, and protests and opposition leaders are now saying that the government is trying to change the story.

Communication Clampdown Amid Rising Tensions

Haryana officials have shut down mobile internet and bulk SMS services in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts for 48 hours, from 11 a.m. on August 19 to 11 a.m. on August 21. Voice calls will still work. This is being done to stop the spread of false information and calm down the growing anger.

What Lies Ahead

• Forensic Findings Awaited: Reports from PGIMS Rohtak and forensic labs on Manisha’s autopsy and toxicology will be very important in figuring out if her death was a murder or a suicide.
• Relentless Protests: Civil disturbance and family opposition to continuing with burial customs are likely to continue, as no arrests have been made yet.
• Political and Institutional Fallout: The way this matter is handled will probably have an effect on Haryana’s politics, with calls for more control from higher-level authorities, including the NHRC or national agencies, gaining strength.

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Why This Case Matters

• It has brought to light systemic problems with how police respond and how they handle cases, especially when it comes to violence against women.
• It has shown how weak the confidence is between civilians and law enforcement, and the public is asking for openness.
• The investigation’s changing course, from murder to possible suicide, has only made many more worried about justice being blocked.