Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
“I was told not to talk about it to anyone. Since the elections are due in Jharkhand, I was told not to approach any politician," says a family member of Sunandini Bage, a 23-year-old hockey player who was found hanging in Jharkhand’s Simdega district on 11 August 2019.
Not just Sunandini, her friend and co-player, 14-year-old Shraddha Soreng too, was found hanging from the same tree. The Quint has taken due permission from the parents of both the girls and hence is using their real names, along with file photos.
‘Suicide’ Spin Given by Police
Even though an FIR has been filed in the case, the Jharkhand Police has not visited Soreng’s residence, in Simdega’s Bansjore village, till date.
Meanwhile Sunandini’s family, which lives in Odisha’s Sundergarh district, claims that they have been told to keep mum till the Jharkhand Assembly elections are over.
“I was also told (by the police) not to approach the human rights commission,” says a family member of Sunandini, who has been following-up on the case regularly.
Though the FIR was filed under Section 302 of the IPC (murder), the police is treating it like a case of suicide.
“As we were only getting news reports about the incident, we first met the investigative officer (IO) of the case. To our surprise, the first thing he said was that it was a suicide case. When we asked how he was so sure, he replied that a girl who used to stay with Sunandini, Pushpa Lohar, said that they commited suicide as as they were in a homosexual relationship,” activist Taramani Sahu was quoted by online portal News Click on 23 September 2019.
Khajur Leaves, Writing on Soap Used to Establish ‘Romantic Relationship’
Another report by Counterview, dated 20 October 2019, claims that cops used to ‘verbally abuse the family members of Shraddha.’
‘Apki beti gande-gande kaam karti thi (Your daughter was involved in dirty work),’ reported Counterview, on uncomfortable comments being hurled at Shraddha’s family.
According to a fact-finding team comprising of activists, which had visited Jharkhand between 17-22 August:
“In the form of evidence, police has collected Shraddha’s diary, leaves of dates (khajur) with writings on them and a soap that has ‘Sunandini’ written, and used the above to establish that Shraddha and Sunandini were in a romantic relationship.”Report by Fact-Finding Team of Activists
Parents Refute Claims That Their Daughters Were ‘Homosexuals’
Their parents, however, refute the ‘homosexual’ theory of the police and have raised questions on the entire investigation.
“I didn’t seem to feel that way. Every time she (Shraddha) would talk to Sunandini, she would refer to her as ‘Didi’.”Rajesh Soreng, Shraddha’s Father
Rajesh further alleges that the police has not investigated the hockey coach, Mary Purti, who used to train both the girls.
“I’m not satisfied with the police investigation because it has been trying to prove that this is a case of suicide. We think that the coach, Mary Purti, also had a role in this. No action has been taken against her.”Rajesh Soreng, Shraddha’s Father
Even activist Taramani Sahu, who had gone to Jharkhand and met with the families of the victims as well as the coach, refutes the ‘homosexual’ theory being pushed by the police:
“While the noose was tightly drawn, their legs were too close to the ground. The police is claiming the girls were into drugs, which is completely untrue. Witnesses presented by the police and our fact-finding team are not on the same page.”Taramani Sahu, Activist
Sunandini Bage’s mother also claims that her daughter was subjected to ill-treatment by the coach:
“Sunandini had complained about Coach Purti... She had abused her at times and even called her ‘junglee’. We want the government to punish the guilty.”Anthonia Bage, Sunandini Bage’s Mother
Sunandini’s Kin Told to Keep Mum Till Polls
The parents of both the girls are now planning to approach the high court in Ranchi, hoping that judicial intervention may help in revealing the truth in their case.
Shraddha’s father as well as Sunandini’s mother have rejected the ‘homosexual’ theory by the police. In October this year, both of them even led protests in Simdega district demanding justice.
A relative of Sunandini, who spoke to The Quint over phone, said that the police has told the family to keep mum till the Assembly elections.
“On 12 November, I had gone to meet the SPO (Special Police Officer) who assured me they would expedite the investigation. They told me not to talk to anyone about it as elections are due in Jharkhand. We have been advised not to approach any politician or the human rights commission.”Sunandini Bage’s Relative
Bemoaning the fact that in a country where Section 377 has been decriminalised over a year ago, activist Sahu says: “It’s unfortunate that we are still talking about homosexuality as the reason behind suicide.”
She continues to maintain that Shraddha and Sunandini ‘were just good friends.’
(With inputs from Jay Shankar Kumar in Ranchi.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)