Journalism of Courage
A 16-year-old SSC student of a Pashan school,who had gone missing on Saturday evening,was found dead under mysterious circumstances in an open yard a few metres from her house off Pashan Road on Sunday morning. Police said she had injuries on her body but doctors who carried out autopsy were still to confirm the cause of death.
Chatushrungi police have identified the girl as Pooja Jadhav,a resident of Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) staff quarters. Police said her father Vilas Jadhav was an ex-defence personnel posted at ARDE as member of Defence Security Corps.
Poojas maternal uncle Deepak Salvi said,We searched for her in the night. We also contacted her friends. The teacher at the tuition class told us she left at 8 pm. We continued search in the morning. Meanwhile,I had a flat tyre. But as we had to continue search,I asked Poojas brother Vicky to go to a nearby shop and get it fixed. He came back without fixing the tyre as money given to him was insufficient. When he went for a second time,he found her body.
Deputy commissioner of police (Zone III) Shahaji Umap told Newsline,There are injuries inflicted with a sharp pointed object. But these injuries are not the cause of the death. There are a lot of possibilities that we are looking into. It is only after the cause of death is confirmed,an offence will be registered.
Salvi added,Pooja was very good at studies. Her family had moved to Pune two months ago. Her father was earlier posted outside Maharashtra and also in Aurangabad. She has a younger sister.
