THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, September 20: A ‘minor male in conflict with law’ below 18 years of age, on Friday, was found dead by hanging in the Observation Home for boys in Daltonganj. The minor was found hanging in the bathroom. He had used ‘gamcha’ for hanging.
The incident is of around 1 pm Friday. Sources said some other inmates of this Observation Home saw him hanging and raised a great hue and cry. It alerted the management of the Observation Home. Panic, shock and fear gripped the Observation Home then.
The minor inmate was rushed to the MMCH Daltonganj little over one and a half kilometre away from the Observation Home where the doctor on duty declared him ‘brought dead’.
Also Read- Jharkhand News: Doctors strike at SNMMCH after MP’s aide assaults woman intern
Facing charges under POCSO Act
Officer in charge of the Daltonganj police station Jyoti Lal Rajwar, confirming this death by hanging of this minor boy inmate of the Observation Home, said “This child was a case of conflict with law. He was facing rape charges and had sections of the POCSO Act.”
Police officer further said, “It was only on August 8, 2025, this child was transferred from Garhwa district to the Observation Home in Daltonganj. There is no Observation Home in Garhwa district. Hence cases of children in conflict with law are sent to the Observation Home in Daltonganj from Garhwa district.
The minor hailed from Ranka block in Garhwa district. Sources said the minor in conflict with law used to be in a state of gloom and glum often.
DLSA Secretary visits inmates
Secretary, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Palamu Rakesh Ranjan said, “I rushed to the Observation Home for the boys on getting information about this sad incident.”
“There are 40 plus boys right now in this Observation Home. I interacted with them and tried to pull them out of shock and trauma,” said the Palamu DLSA Secretary Rakesh Ranjan.
“I told the inmates there in the Observation Home not to resort to such a thing. There is no problem that can’t be solved. There will be all care of their well being,” said the DLSA Secretary.
“I further reassured the inmates of all assistance in case they need our intervention”, he reminded.
This correspondent spoke to the District Social Welfare Officer Neeta Chouhan to know about the case to which this lady officer said: “I was out of Daltonganj town on Friday.”
Also Read- Kurmi agitation disrupts South Eastern Railway train services
Calls for counselling and inquiry ordered
Further the state government has now brought such Observation Homes under the purview of the Social Security shifting it from the Social Welfare Department.
Police sources said this is the first incident of its kind when an inmate of the Observation Home for boys resorted to such a tragic ending of life. Death by suicide has never occurred in Observation Home here in Daltonganj.
There has been several episodes of inmates of the Observation Home escaping from the confinement but this is the first sad incident where a minor below 18 years of age died by hanging.
An administrative officer wishing not to be quoted said, “There is a strong need of counselling here. The inmates here need emotional touch. Inmates are stressed.”
Palamu Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sameera S taking a serious cognizance of the tragic ending of the inmate told this correspondent, “A magisterial inquiry will be conducted into this case of death by hanging.”
DC Sameera S was right through a high-level meeting when she was urged to outline administration’s action to be taken on this tragic death by suicide and she quite firmly declared a magisterial inquiry into this incident.
