Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
An 18-year-old domestic worker was found dead under suspicious circumstances at a bungalow in Chandigarh's Sector 10 on Saturday, prompting allegations of murder from her family and demands for an impartial investigation.
The deceased has been identified as Tapti, a native of Santri village in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. She had reportedly joined the household as a live-in domestic worker just a week ago, with a promised monthly salary of ₹20,000.
According to the victim's brother-in-law, Vikas, Tapti called her sister Priyanka around 11 p.m. on Friday and said she was unhappy at the house and was being harassed. Priyanka advised her to leave the job and return home the next morning, but Tapti did not reveal further details before disconnecting the call. Subsequent attempts by the family to contact her were unsuccessful as her phone remained switched off.
The family said they received a call around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday from the bungalow's driver, who informed them that Tapti had allegedly died by suicide after hanging herself. Vikas claimed he specifically requested that no one touch the body or disturb the scene until the family arrived.
However, when the relatives reached the bungalow, they found that Tapti's body had already been removed and taken to the Government Hospital in Sector 16. The family questioned why the body was shifted despite their request and alleged that they were not informed about the exact condition in which she was found.
The relatives also alleged that instead of preserving the scene for investigation, the body was transported to the hospital, potentially affecting crucial evidence. They have rejected the suicide claim, alleging that Tapti was murdered and demanding strict action against the bungalow owner as well as a fair and transparent investigation.
Police reached the spot after receiving information about the incident and shifted the body to the mortuary at Government Hospital, Sector 16, for a post-mortem examination. Officials said further action will be taken based on the post-mortem report, forensic evidence, and the findings of the ongoing investigation.
Police have not confirmed the cause of death, and the investigation is currently underway.
