Class 7 student found hanging in Darbhanga hostel; Father alleges repeated assault before death

A Class 7 student was found dead inside the hostel of PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Pachadhi, Darbhanga, on Tuesday morning. The student, Jitan Gautam, was found hanging from a noose above his bed in the Aravali Junior House hostel block. The incident triggered panic on campus as soon as the body was discovered.

Jitan Gautam was the son of Kevati Panchayat head Ruby Kumari and social worker Santosh Kumar Sahu. According to the father, the student had spoken to him on the phone the previous night and mentioned being physically assaulted. “He told us over the phone that he was beaten again. We said we’d come in the morning,” said Santosh Kumar Sahu. The family was later informed about the incident.

After the police arrived and removed the body, local residents gathered at the school and surrounded the police vehicle. Protesters accused the police of removing the body before any forensic or investigation team reached the spot. They alleged that this action could impact the investigation process and demanded accountability from the school authorities.

The child’s mother, Ruby Kumari, broke down on the school premises, and the situation grew tense. Family members and local residents demanded that the school principal be brought to the scene, but the administrative office was found locked. Police deployed at the site attempted to maintain order as investigations began into the student's death.