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Professor found dead with hands, throat cut at Jabalpur home

Initial observations revealed cut marks on the deceased’s hands and neck, raising suspicions of foul play, investigators said.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police Suryakant Sharma, authorities were informed about the incident by the professor’s domestic help, who arrived at the house for routine work.

A 57-year-old professor teaching at a college in Jabalpur was found dead in her residence on Friday afternoon, prompting police to launch an investigation.

Professor Pragya Agarwal, who taught botany at the Home Science College in Jabalpur, was discovered with cut marks on her hands and neck, with police saying they are probing the circumstances surrounding her death.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police Suryakant Sharma, authorities were informed about the incident by the professor’s domestic help, who arrived at the house for routine work.

On entering the home in Amber Vihar, the worker found Professor Agarwal lying lifeless in a room with blood scattered around. The police were immediately notified, and a team was dispatched to the scene.

Initial observations revealed cut marks on the deceased’s hands and neck, raising suspicions of foul play, investigators said. A Forensic Science Laboratory team was called to assist with the investigation, and a detailed crime scene examination was conducted. The body has been sent to the medical college for a post-mortem examination, the results of which are awaited to determine the cause of death.

“The police were informed about her death. Since the circumstances appeared to be suspicious, an FSL team was also called to the spot. A crime scene investigation was undertaken, and the body was sent for post-mortem. We are trying to get in touch with her family to get more clarity,” Sharma said.

Professor Agarwal was unmarried and lived alone in her home, police said. She had recently been transferred from Jabalpur to Damoh. Police inquiries indicate that she occasionally received visitors, including neighbours. The domestic help, who has worked for the professor for several years, told police she had been given a key to the house and visited two to three times daily to perform household tasks.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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