˜Nandita was under pressure to cope with the English medium'

Bengaluru:Dec 10: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday claimed that it had conclusive evidence that 14-year-old Nanditha, a girl from Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, who died under mysterious circumstances in October, had committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance containing phosphorous.

The CID submitted an interim report to the State government and ruled out allegations of the girl being kidnapping, her modesty being outraged and homicide by administering poison.

DGP (CID) Bipin Gopalakrishna said five teams of the CID thoroughly investigated the case and arrived at a conclusion that the girl was under pressure to cope with the English medium of education. œKrishnamurthy, the father of the girl, had lodged a complaint alleging abduction, molestation and murder.

The CID teams comprising five DySPs, eight police inspectors and more than 25 other officials questioned more than 100 people. All available evidences and information suggest that the deceased committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance. It could be rat poison or pesticide,  he said.

According to the CID officials, the reason for the suicide could be a change in the school, from Kannada medium to English medium. œShe was a student of St Mary's School till 7th standard and was enrolled at Government School in English medium at Thirthahalli this year. The teachers have stated that she was a good student and used to get AA+ marks in exams.

The teams have collected statements from her classmates and teachers which suggest that she was upset over not being able to cope with change in the medium of instruction. We will continue the investigation to collect any other evidence possible relating to the case. A final report will be submitted soon,  Bipin said.

Nanditha, a resident of Balebail near Thirthahalli, had fallen ill on October 29 night. She was taken to a health centre in Thirthahalli and was referred to a Shivamogga hospital the next day. The doctors at McGann Hospital referred her to KMC Hospital in Manipal where she was declared dead.

Nanditha's father Krishnamurthy told the police that his daughter had told him that some unknown youths, along with a known person from Thirthahalli, had kidnapped her. An FIR was registered at the Thirthahalli police station under Sections 366-A, 354-B, 302 of the IPC and Section 7 of the Pocso Act.

The CID police clarified that the allegations of kidnap was not the creation of Nanditha's father. In fact, Nanditha had told the same to a doctor at the health centre in Thirthahalli. œThe girl has told her father that she was abducted by some people.

She has also told the same to a doctor in Thirthahalli. However, we have conclusive evidence that no one had abducted her. In fact, one of the suspects named by the father was found to be at some other place at the time of the incident and this was also evident from a CCTV footage.

The Anandagiri Hills, where she was found by two women, is just 2-3 km away from her house and she had gone there on her own,  Inspector General of Police (CID) Pronab Mohanty said.