Bhiwani (Balwinder Singh): Days of tension in Haryana’s Bhiwani district came to an end on Thursday morning when the final rites of 19-year-old teacher Manisha were carried out in her village, Dhani Laxman. The cremation, attended by grieving relatives and villagers, took place around 8 a.m. after the family’s long-standing demands were met.
Manisha’s body had been subjected to three autopsies, first in Bhiwani, then at Rohtak PGI, and finally at Delhi’s AIIMS, before it was brought back to her native village for cremation.
Family’s Struggle for Justice
The family had earlier refused to proceed with the last rites, pressing for two assurances from the government: transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a fresh medical examination at AIIMS. Villagers had stood firmly behind the family, warning that unless these conditions were met, they would escalate the protest and block the cremation.
Their pressure campaign succeeded when Chief Minister Naib Saini announced on Thursday morning that the investigation had been officially handed over to the CBI. Soon after, officials confirmed that AIIMS doctors had conducted the third autopsy, meeting the family’s second demand.
Lawrence Gang’s Entry Raises Alarms
The case took a startling turn when gangster Goldie Dhillo, linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, stated on social media. He alleged that Manisha’s death was a brutal killing and warned that if justice was not ensured by the authorities, the gang would intervene. The post sparked concern and drew attention to the possible politicization and criminal interference in the case.
Protest Withdrawn, Peace Restored
Following the government’s concessions, Manisha’s grandfather Ram Kishan addressed the villagers, urging them to conclude the agitation. “We only wanted a fair investigation and an impartial postmortem. Both have been given to us,” he said. Farmer leader Suresh Kauth echoed his sentiment, after which villagers unanimously agreed to call off the protest.
With the cremation now complete, the focus shifts entirely to the CBI probe, which is expected to unravel the truth behind the teacher’s tragic death. The involvement of the Lawrence gang has further complicated the matter, raising concerns about law and order in the region.
